Joseph continued preaching his doctrine of Monotheism to the prisoners with a two-fold purposes:ِ If the cup-bearer who was supposed to be saved and restored to his position would believe in Allah and the life to come, his faith could serve to make him an honest believer and helpful to the helpless and needy. He could be very effective in this field for having such a position, and being so near to Pharaoh.
If the baker who was condemned to death would believe in God and in the life to come after his death, he could have the consolation of thinking that his crucification was not the end of his existence, but the beginning of a new life in a new world. He therefore put an stress upon the faith in God saying:ِ ``My fellow prisoners! Let us talk frankly and friendly that we all suffer the same misfortune and hardship of prison and misjudgements. Do you think having many lords with various ideals and plans and plots, and with the inevitable conflict between them, is better than having one true God who is the real and Merciful Lord of all creatures? The only true Lord whose power is infinite and irresistible? And do you not think that too many cooks will spoil the broth? Whatever you worship other than Allah, are merely names that are either your inventions or your forefather's forgeries. And after all; who gave you the authority to worship some pieces of stones that you have carved with your own hands!? Authority and commandments rest with Allah alone. He has already commanded that you should worship nothing but Him. This commandment has been revealed by the Messengers of God, and through His clear signs and evidences; and it is such a worship that is the rightful creed and the most upright religion, which is supported by knowledge and wisdom.''
Joseph then passed from such spiritual matters, and proceeded to answer the questions for which the two prisoners had come to him. As for the cup-bearer he had a good news, that soon would he pour wine for his lord to drink, and would reobtain his position as the cup-bearer of Pharaoh. But for the other prisoner the news was too bad, and Joseph hid it not from him. The baker would soon be crucified and birds would eat out of his head. Although this was a terrible news, but Joseph had already planted some higher hope in him; that everything lays in the hands of our Merciful Lord, and there is a higher and more lasting life to come after death, for those who have faith.
Here Joseph thought of getting out of the prison in order to be more useful to people, and to the cause of God; or at least make AZIZ to forget him not in that dungeon which was no better than the well of his brethren. He therefore said to the cup-bearer:ِ ``Remember me to your lord! But Satan made him to forget, and so he had to stay in the jail for years.''
For common people it is not a sin to resort to natural means, for a rescue from prison or a misery. But for a saint and a man of God, it is not becoming to leave God and resort to natural means and the ``As soon as Joseph said to the cup-bearer to remember me to your lord, GABRIEL, the Arch Angel of God apeared to him and asked him questions; Your Lord asks you Joseph; who shaped you in such a beautiful form that you have? My Lord God, was the answer.''
``Who did send the caravan near by, and to find and save you from the well? He was my God who did so, answered Joseph. Who turned the wiles of the ladies away from you and held you clean an pure? Again, ``my God'' was Joseph's answere. Then what made you to ignore such a Merciful Lord, and ask his creature to consider your request? You therefore have to remain here in this prison for several years!''
What could Joseph do or say except shedding bitter tears and asking God's forgiveness through a sincere repentance? This was what he did.
Our prophet did say to a bedouin Arab; ``first tie up the feet of your camel, and then leave her alone, by putting your trust in Allah;'' but of surety, he would not say to the apostle, Danial; ``take a sword first and then enter the well of the lions.''
