Which Surah and Juz is Quran 12:20 from?

This ayah is from Surah Yusuf (Joseph), the 12th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 12.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 12:20?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sunan Abu Dawud.

What tafsir is available for Quran 12:20?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 12:20 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Betrayal, Justice, Historical Events, Patience, Ethical Themes.

Ayah 19

وَجَآءَتْ سَيَّارَةٌۭ فَأَرْسَلُوا۟ وَارِدَهُمْ فَ...

12:20Yusuf

Q: What does Quran 12:20 mean?

Quran 12:20 (Surah Yusuf, Ayah 20) translates to: "And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little."

Ayah 21

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَت...

وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍۢ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍۢ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ

Wa sharawhu bisamanim bakhsin daraahima ma'doo datinw wa kaanoo feehi minaz zaahideen

And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.

Themes in this ayah

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Lessons from past peoples96

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

5 other themes with weak connections

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Lessons from past peoples

12:20Ayah 1111

72 ayahs in Yusuf are strongly about lessons from past peoples. This is one of them.

← Previous on Lessons from past peoples12:19And there came a company of travelers; then they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, "Good news!Next on Lessons from past peoples →12:21And 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,

Tafsir

Scholars largely agree on this ayah

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 12:20→

Then they sold him — they the caravan purchased him from them — for a very low a diminished price a handful of dirhams 20 or 22; for they that is his brothers set small store by him. So the caravan brought him to Egypt where the one who had bought him sold him for 20 dinars two pairs of sandals and two robes.

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sold a Mudabbar.

Sunan an-Nasa'i #5427It was narrated that Jabir bin 'Abdullah said:Sahih

"A man among the Ansar stated that his salve was to be set free after he died; he was in need, and he owed a debt. The Messenger of Allah sold him (the slave) for eight hundred Dirhams, and he gave (the money) to him and said: 'Pay off your debt and spend on your dependents.'"

Sunan Abu Dawud #3476The tradition mentioned above has also been related by al-'Amash to the same effect through a different chain of narrators. This version adds:Sahih

"He used: 'Not purify them ; grievously will be their penalty.'" He said about (selling) the goods: I swear by Allah, I was given (the price) so and so for it. The other man considered it to be correct and bought it.

Sahih al-Bukhari #2149Narrated Jabir:Sahih

The Prophet (ﷺ) sold a Mudabbar (on behalf of his master who was still living and in need of money).

Sunan Abu Dawud #3345A similar tradition has also been transmitted by Ibn 'Abbas though a different chain of narrators. This version says:Sahih

"He (the Prophet) purchased a calf from a caravan, but he had no money with him. He then sold it with some profit and gave the profit in charity to the poor and widows of Banu 'Abd al-Muttalib. He then said: I shall not buy anything after this but only when I have money with me.