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Surah 12. Yusuf, Ayah 42

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وَقَالَ لِلَّذِى ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ
Waq a la lilla th ee th anna annahu n a jin minhum a o th kurnee AAinda rabbika faans a hu a l shshay ta nu th ikra rabbihi falabitha fee a l ssijni bi d AAa sineen a
And [thereupon Joseph] said unto the one of the two whom he considered saved: "Mention me unto thy lord [when thou art free]!" But Satan caused him to forget to mention [Joseph] to his lord, and so he remained in prison a few [more] years.
  - Mohammad Asad
Then, to the one who he thought would be released, he said: "Mention me to your lord." But Shaitan made him forget to mention (Yusuf) to his lord, so he remained in the prison a few more years.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Then he said to the one he knew would survive, 'Mention me in the presence of your master.1' But Satan made him forget to mention Joseph to his master, so he remained in prison for several years.
  - Mustafa Khattab

 The King of Egypt.

And he said unto him of the twain who he knew would be released: Mention me in the presence of thy lord. But Satan caused him to forget to mention it to his lord, so he (Joseph) stayed in prison for some years.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And of the two to that one whom he considered about to be saved he said: "Mention me to thy lord." But Satan made him forget to mention him to his lord: and (Joseph) lingered in prison a few (more) years. 1697 1698 1699
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Joseph never mentioned himself in interpreting the dream, nor ever thought of himself in his kindness to his fellow-sufferers in prison. It was afterwards, when the cup-bearer's dream came true, and he was being released on being restored to favour, that we can imagine him taking an affectionate leave of Joseph, and even asking him in his elation if he could do anything for Joseph. Joseph had no need of earthly favours,- least of all, from kings or their favourites. The divine grace was enough for him. But he had great work to do, which he could not do in prison-work for Egypt and her king, and the world at large. If the cup-bearer could mention him to the king, not by way of recommendation, but because the king's own justice was being violated in keeping an innocent man in prison, perhaps that might help to advance the cause of the king and of Egypt. And so he said, "Mention me to Pharaoh."

The eternal Plan does not put Allah's Prophets under obligations to men commanding mere worldly favour or earthly power. If they are given a chance, the obligation is on the worldly men, however highly placed...In this case, the poor cup-bearer was but human. When he was in the midst of the Court, he forgot the poor fellow-prisoner languishing in prison. In this he yielded to the lower part of his nature, which is guided by Satan.

A few (more) years: bidh' in Arabic signifies a small indefinite number, say up to 3, 5, 7 or 9 years.

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