Page 54 - Communication and Argument in the Qur'an

52 COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENT IN THE QUR’AN

the listener some time to relax will be useful. However, it
would be a major mistake to allow the listeners to have
control over the conversation and thereby have to deal
with their unformed ideas and hypothetical questions. In
short, believers should tell the listeners what is necessary
and not what they want to hear. A good example is Yusuf’s
(as) method of talking to other prisoners:
Two servants entered prison along with him. One said
(to Yusuf): “I dreamt I was pressing grapes.” The other
said: “I dreamt I carried bread upon my head and birds
were eating it. Tell us the true meaning of these
dreams. We see that you are one of the righteous.” He
replied: “No meal to feed you will arrive before I have
informed you what they [your dreams] mean. That is
part of what my Lord taught me. For I have left the reli-
gion of a people who clearly have no faith in Allah and
who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the world to
come. I hold fast to the creed of my forebears Ibrahim,
Ishaq, and Ya‘qub. We do not associate anything with
Allah. And that is how Allah has favored us and all
humanity. But most people do not give thanks. My fel-
low prisoners, are many lords better or Allah, the only
One, the Conqueror? What you serve apart from Him
are only names that you and your forefathers have
made up. There is no mandate for them from Allah.
Allah alone is qualified to judge. His order is to worship
none but Him. That is, in truth, the straight and upright
religion, but most people simply do not know. My fel-
low captives, one of you will serve his lord with wine,