Story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) Part-22

The Economic Crisis
The cupbearer went to the prison. He came to
Yousif and said to him: "Yousif, truthful one,
explain to us the dream of the King. He saw
seven thin cows devouring seven fat ones. He
saw seven green stalks and (seven) others dry.
Yousif, interpret this dream to me. Then, I'll
go back to the King and his statesmen. So
they'll know your position and truthfulness."
Yousif saw the facts clearly. Allah had
endowed him with the ability to interpret
dreams. Warning them against the future
economic crisis, Yousif said: "You shall sow
continuously for seven years. Then leave what
you reap in its stalk except a little of which
you eat. Then there shall come after that
seven hard years which shall eat away all that
you have before-hand laid up in store for
them, except a little of what you shall have
preserved. Then there will come after that a
year in which people shall have rain in which
they shall press (grapes)."
The cupbearer set off carrying Yousif's words
to the King and his statesmen.
The cupbearer stood before the King and
related to him Yousif's words in detail.
The King was surprised, so he said to himself:
"This means that the Nile will flow over its
banks for seven years. It won't rain for seven
years. The level of water in the Nile will drop.
So there'll be famine."
Yousif interpreted the dream to them, and
then he gave them an economic plan. That
was when he said to them: "Sow continuously
for the first seven years. Work hard. Collect
your crops in certain stores. Be economical
with your food."
"When the dry years come, your stores will be
full of wheat. The stored wheat will be enough
to the Egyptian people."
"When the dry years end, a new year will come,
which will be blessed with rain and
prosperity."
The King understood that he had a person
with many abilities. The person's name was
Yousif It was Yousif who suffered in prison for
long years.
For this reason, the King ordered Yousif to be
released, saying: "Bring him to me."
The cupbearer of the king went to the prison
to release Yousif.
Did Yousif rejoice at his release? No, he did
not. He refused to leave the prison. He said to
the cupbearer of the King: "Go back and ask
the King about the women who cut their
fingers. Surely, my Lord Knows their guile."
The cupbearer came to the King and told him
about Yousif's attitude, saying: "Yousif won't
leave the prison till you affirm his innocence.
He said: "Let the King ask the women why
they've cut their fingers. The Commander-in-
chief knows that I'm innocent."
The King summoned the women. The
Commander-in-chief's wife herself was among
them. The King asked them: "Why did you
tempt Yousif?"
All the women replied: "Far is Allah (from
imperfection). We firmly believe that Yousif
has made no evil. He's innocent of all the
accusations. He's as pure as dew drops."
The Commander-in-chief's wife herself
confirmed Yousif's innocence, saying: "The
truth is now in the open. It's I who tempted
Yousif. All Yousif's words are truthful."
The King admired Yousif's honesty, knowledge,
and patience. For this reason, he commanded:
"Bring him to me. I'll choose him for myself."
Yousif's innocence was as clear as the sun.
Then the King ordered Yousif to be released.
Yousif came to the King. The King had a
conversation with him. He admired his vast
knowledge.
Then the King said to Yousif, "Surely you are
in our presence an honorable, a faithful one."
Yousif became a great character in Egypt.
However, he thought of only one thing. He
thought that he had to save Egypt from the
future economic disaster. So he said to the
King. "Place me in (authority) over the
treasures of the land. Surely, I am a good
knowledgeable keeper."
Yousif wanted to mange agricultural and
irrigation affairs. He wanted to store crops to
get ready for the years of drought and famine.
Soon, the King accepted Yousif's suggestion.
Thus, Yousif became the Prophet of Egypt. He
was patient. He endured all the hardships. He
was believed in Allah, so his heart was pure
and full of faith. Allah, the Glorified, had mercy
on him. He saved him from the well, deviation
from the right path, and prison. Then he made
him a Prophet over the great country of Egypt.