Praise be to Allah.
The story begins with a dream and ends with its interpretation. As the sun appeared over the horizon, bathing the earth in its morning glory, Joseph (PBUH), son of the Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) (PBUH) awoke from his sleep, delighted by a pleasant dream he had had. Filled with excitement he ran to his father and related it.
“O my father! Verily, I saw (in a dream) eleven stars and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves to me.” (Q 12:4)
His father’s face lit up. He foresaw that Joseph would be one through whom the prophecy of his grandfather, Prophet Ibraheem (PBUH), would be fulfilled, in that his offspring would keep the light of Abraham’s house alive and spread Allah’s message to mankind.
Therefore, it was narrated that Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) was asked: “Who is the most honourable amongst the people?” He replied: “The most God-fearing.” The people said: “We do not want to ask you about this.” He said: “The most honourable person is Yusuf, Allah’s prophet, the son of Allah’s prophet, the son of the faithful friend of Allah (Ibraheem).” (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
However, the father was well aware of the jealousy of Yusuf’s brothers, so he
warned him against telling his dream to his brothers.
“O, my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Satan is to man an open enemy! Thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams (and other things) and perfect His Favor on you and on the offspring of Jacob, as He perfected it on your fathers, Ibraheem, and Isaac aforetime! Verily! your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (Q 12:5-6)
In short, Yusuf heeded his father’s warning. He did not tell his brothers what he had seen. It is well known that they hated him so much that it was difficult for him to feel secure telling them what was in his heart and in his dreams.
