Yusuf knew that the distiller would be saved. So discretely, so that the other man's suspicion that he would be crucified would not intensify, he said,

[اذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ]

(Mention me to your King.) asking him to mention his story to the king. That man forgot Yusuf's request and did not mention his story to the king, a plot from the devil, so that Allah's Prophet would not leave the prison. This is the correct meaning of,

[فَأَنْسَاهُ الشَّيْطَـنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِ]

(But Shaytan made him forget to mention it to his master.) that it refers to the man who was saved. As was said by Mujahid, Muhammad bin Ishaq and several others. As for, `a few years', or, Bida` in Arabic, it means between three and nine, according to Mujahid and Qatadah. Wahb bin Munabbih said, "Ayyub suffered from the illness for seven years, Yusuf remained in prison for seven years and Bukhtanassar (Nebuchadnezzar - Chaldean king of Babylon) was tormented for seven years.''

[وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ إِنِّى أَرَى سَبْعَ بَقَرَتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنْبُلَـتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـتٍ يأَيُّهَا الْمَلأُ أَفْتُونِى فِى رُؤْيَـىَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّؤْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ - قَالُواْ أَضْغَـثُ أَحْلَـمٍ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَأْوِيلِ الاٌّحْلَـمِ بِعَـلِمِينَ - وَقَالَ الَّذِى نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَاْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِتَأْوِيلِهِ فَأَرْسِلُونِ - يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا الصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنبُلَـتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَـبِسَـتٍ لَّعَلِّى أَرْجِعُ إِلَى النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ - قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعُ سِنِينَ دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِى سُنبُلِهِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ - ثُمَّ يَأْتِى مِن بَعْدِ ذلِكَ سَبْعٌ شِدَادٌ يَأْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُونَ - ثُمَّ يَأْتِى مِن بَعْدِ ذلِكَ عَامٌ فِيهِ يُغَاثُ النَّاسُ وَفِيهِ يَعْصِرُونَ ]

(43. And the king (of Egypt) said: "Verily, I saw (in a dream) seven fat cows, whom seven lean ones were devouring, and seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry. O notables! Explain to me my dream, if it be that you can interpret dreams.'' (44. They said: "Mixed up false dreams and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams.'') o(45. Then the man who was released, now at length remembered and said: "I will tell you its interpretation, so send me forth.'') (46. (He said): "O Yusuf, the man of truth! Explain to us seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring, and seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry, that I may return to the people, and that they may know.'') (47. [Yusuf] said: "For seven consecutive years, you shall sow as usual and that which you reap you shall leave it in the ears, (all) except a little of it which you may eat.'') (48. "Then will come after that, seven hard (years), which will devour what you have laid by in advance for them, (all) except a little of that which you have guarded (stored).'') (49. "Then thereafter will come a year in which people will have abundant rain and in which they will press (wine and oil).'')