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Fatwa CenterThe meaning of ‘favor’ in the verse, ‘And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives and complete His favor upon you...’
Question
Assalamualikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. What is the interpretation made by Prophet Yaqub (upon whom be peace) of Prophet Yusuf's (upon him be peace) dream in which he saw 11 stars, a moon and a sun doing sajdah? Did he interpret that he would be a Prophet? Or did he interpret that he would hold a high position?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It was said that the word ‘favor’ in the following verse means prophethood. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise."} [Quran 12:6]
Tafseer Al-Baghawi – Taybah (4/214) reads:
“Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {And thus will your Lord choose you}; these words were addressed by Ya‘qoob (Jacob) to his son Yusuf. The verse goes on: {and teach you the interpretation of narratives}, meaning dream interpretation, {and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob,} meaning the sons of Prophet Ya‘qoob because all of them were Prophets of Allah as well, {as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac}, who were Prophets of Allah, {Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise."} [Quran 12:6]” Ibn Al-Jawzi 
said in Zad Al-Muyassir fi ‘Ilm At-Tafseer (2414): “Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {and complete His favor upon you.} [Quran 12:6] Scholars gave three interpretations for the word ‘favor’ here; one of which is ‘prophethood’, and this was the opinion of Ibn ‘Abbas 
.” [summarized]
If its meaning is 'prophethood', then this means that Prophet Ya‘qoob 
interpreted Yusuf’s dream as meaning that he would be given two divine bestowals: the ability to interpret dreams and the prophethood.
Allah knows best.
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