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
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةً فِى نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَا ۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلْمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَـٰهُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And when they entered from where their father had ordered them, it did not avail them against Allāh at all except [it was] a need [i.e., concern] within the soul of Jacob, which he satisfied. And indeed, he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most of the people do not know.
وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ
And when he had furnished them with their supplies, he said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of accommodators?
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ
O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed about which you both inquire."
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّى كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
He said, "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant."