وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ 20
Translations
And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.
Transliteration
Wa-sharahu bi-thamenin bakhsin darahima ma'dudatin wa-kanu fihi mina al-zahidin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the brothers of Prophet Yusuf sold him to a merchant for a small, insignificant price (a few dirhams), demonstrating their callousness and lack of regard for their brother's value. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that the phrase 'they were among those who held him in contempt' reveals their indifference and disregard, emphasizing the gravity of their sin. The 'counted dirhams' underscore how little they valued this precious soul, contrasting sharply with Allah's plan to elevate Yusuf to prominence and vindicate him.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's trial and tribulation in Surah Yusuf, which details his journey from being sold into slavery to his eventual position of authority in Egypt. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad faced opposition from the Quraysh, and Yusuf's story serves as a consolation, illustrating how Allah tests the righteous but ultimately grants them victory and vindication.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific transaction, Sahih Bukhari and Muslim contain narrations about the Prophet's emphasis on honoring family ties and the sin of betrayal. The hadith 'The best of you are those who are best to their families' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi) relates thematically to the brothers' grave violation of family bonds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that temporary worldly gains obtained through injustice and betrayal are ultimately worthless, while Allah's plan for the oppressed ultimately prevails; we should guard against greed and indifference to the suffering of others, especially family members, knowing that Allah sees all deeds and will ultimately establish justice.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَـٰهِلُونَ
He said, "Do you know what you did with Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?"
قَالُوا۟ فَمَا جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُمْ كَـٰذِبِينَ
They [the accusers] said, "Then what would be its recompense if you should be liars?"
قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَٰوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ قُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوٓءٍ ۚ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ حَصْحَصَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
Said [the king to the women], "What was your condition when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Perfect is Allāh! We know about him no evil." The wife of al-ʿAzeez said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events [i.e., dreams]. And Allāh is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.