One day the young Yusuf told his father:
Ya'qub understood it as a sign of great honour. He warned his son: do not tell your brothers of this dream, or they will plot against you.
The well
His brothers burned with envy. Taking Yusuf away from their father, they threw him into the depths of a well. In that darkness Allah revealed to him: one day you will tell them of this deed of theirs, while they do not realise who you are.
A caravan let down a bucket for water, and up came a boy. They took him to Egypt and sold him for a few coins. He was bought by a man of rank in Egypt, al-'Aziz.
The trial
Yusuf grew up, and Allah gave him wisdom and knowledge. The lady of the house tried to seduce him and closed the doors. He said: I seek refuge in Allah. Later even women of the city tried to tempt him. He prayed: my Lord, prison is dearer to me than what they invite me to. Though innocent, he went to prison.
In prison two companions asked him to interpret their dreams. Before interpreting, he called them to Allah alone. Then what he told them came to pass exactly.
The king's dream
Years later the king dreamt of seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of corn and seven dry. No one could interpret it — until the freed companion remembered Yusuf.
Yusuf said: you will sow for seven good years — leave most of the harvest in the ear; then seven hard years of famine will come. The king sent for him, but Yusuf first asked that his innocence be established. The truth came out, and the king put him in charge of the land's storehouses.
The brothers
In the famine people from Canaan came to Egypt for grain — among them Yusuf's brothers. He knew them; they did not know him. Events unfolded until at last Yusuf revealed who he was. To his brothers, heads bowed in shame, he said:
His parents and the whole family came to Egypt. All bowed before him in honour, and Yusuf said: father, this is the meaning of my dream of long ago; my Lord has made it come true.