His saying: "And seven green spikes."

11664 - And by the same chain, Qatadah narrated to us, [regarding] his saying: "And seven green spikes," and they are the fertile years, [in which] the earth brings forth its plants, its crops, and its fruits.

His saying: "And others dry."

11665 - And by the same chain, Qatadah narrated to us, [regarding] "and others dry," [they are] the drought-stricken, barren years; the earth does not bring forth its crops or its fruits.

His saying, the Exalted: "So that I may return to the people, that they may know."

11666 - Musa ibn Abi Musa al-Ansari narrated to us, Harun ibn Hatim narrated to us, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Hammad narrated to us, from Asbat, from al-Suddi, from Abu Malik, [regarding] his saying: "so that I may (la‘alli)," meaning: in order to (kay).

11667 - ‘Abd Allah narrated to us, al-Husayn narrated to us, ‘Amir narrated to us, from Asbat, from al-Suddi: "So that I may return to the people, that they may know" its interpretation.

His saying, the Exalted: "You will sow for seven years consecutively, and what you harvest, leave it in its spikes."

11668 - And by the same chain, from al-Suddi: He said: "You will sow for seven years consecutively, and what you harvest, leave it in its spikes." He said: It is more lasting for it.

11669 - Abu Yazid al-Qaratisi informed us in what he wrote to me, Asbagh ibn al-Faraj narrated to us, he said: I heard ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd saying, regarding his saying: "I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me. Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows." He was not satisfied with just explaining the interpretation to them until he ordered them to be frugal. He said: "For seven years consecutively, and what you harvest, leave it in its spikes," because the grain, when it is in its spike, is not eaten.

His saying, the Exalted: "except a little from which you eat."

11670 - My father narrated to us, Hisham ibn Khalid narrated to us, Shu‘ayb ibn Ishaq narrated to us, Sa‘id narrated to us, from Qatadah, [who] said: The Prophet of Allah, Joseph—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said to them: "You will sow for seven years consecutively," up to his saying: "from which you eat." The Prophet of Allah, Joseph, intended [for them to ensure] survival.