Surah Yusuf Tafseer

وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ

And they sold him for a Bakhs price, - for a few Dirhams

in reference to Yusuf's brothers selling him for a little price, according to Mujahid and Ikrimah.

Bakhs' means decreased, just as Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,

فَلَ يَخَافُ بَخْساً وَلَا رَهَقاً

shall have no fear, either of a Bakhs (a decrease in the reward of his good deeds) or a Rahaq (an increase in the punishment for his sins). (72:13)

meaning that Yusuf's brothers exchanged him for a miserably low price. Yet, he was so insignificant to them that had the caravan people wanted him for free, they would have given him for free to them!

Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Ad-Dahhak said that,

وَشَرَوْهُ

(And they sold him), is in reference to Yusuf's brothers. They sold Yusuf for the lowest price, as indicated by Allah's statement next,

دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ

(for a few Dirhams),

twenty Dirhams, according to Abdullah bin Mas`ud.

Similar was said by Ibn Abbas, Nawf Al-Bikali, As-Suddi, Qatadah and Atiyah Al-Awfi, who added that they divided the Dirhams among themselves, each getting two Dirhams.

وَكَانُواْ فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ

And they were of those who regarded him insignificant.

Ad-Dahhak commented on Allah's statement,

"Because they had no knowledge of his Prophethood and glorious rank with Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored.