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
وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"
أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا غَدًا يَرْتَعْ وَيَلْعَبْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians."
قَالَتْ فَذَٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ ۖ وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ فَٱسْتَعْصَمَ ۖ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَآ ءَامُرُهُۥ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ
She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased."
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِصْرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ
And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his parents to himself [i.e., embraced them] and said, "Enter Egypt, Allāh willing, safe [and secure]."