What Does “Dirham” Mean in Prophet Yusuf’s Story?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

In Sura 12, verse 20, the word dirham, or silver coin, is used in relation to Prophet Joseph’s story. However, dirhams were not invented at that time. Moreover, a coin system was not used in Egypt then; a weighing system was used. Then, is there a different meaning of the word in the Quranic story

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

During the rise of Islam, any silver coin was called a dirham. It also served as a unit of weight and coinage and represented a monetary unit that might or might not be reflected in a circulating coin. Given the diverse nature of dirham, the use of this word in the story of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) indicates silver “coinage”; the silver used as deben or sh‘t in ancient Egypt. See the detailed research article below.

Commentary on Verse 12:20

Allah Most High said,

“And they eagerly sold for a pittance of his worth, a handful of dirhams counted out.” [Quran, 12:20]

The correct stance about this is to say that Allah Most High mentioned that they sold him for a few dirhams, counted, not weighed, without disclosing the exact amount, neither in weight nor in count. Neither did He provide any indication in this regard, whether in the Book or an account through the Messenger – Allah bless him and give him peace. The price may be 20 dirhams, 22 dirhams, or 40 dirhams. It could be more or less than that.

Whatever that amount was, it was counted, not weighed. Neither does the knowledge of the exact amount bring any benefit, nor does the lack thereof bring about any harm, religion-wise. We are ordered to believe in the apparent intent of the revelation, while we are not required to pursue any knowledge beyond that. [Tabari, Jami al-Bayan an Ta‘wil Ay al-Quran]

Imam Qurtubi says, The Arab traders used to transact deals involving big amounts by weight, while for amounts not more than forty, they would go by count. Therefore, the word: “مَعْدُودَةٍ” (few) used with: “دِرَاھُم” (darahim: plural of dirham: silver coins) tells us that the count of dirhams was less than forty.

Ibn Kathir, citing the authority of Abdullah ibn Masud (Allah be pleased with him), has written that the deal was closed at twenty dirhams, which the ten brothers had divided among themselves at the rate of two dirhams per person. As for the exact number of dirhams reported, other narrations put them at twenty-two and forty. (Ibn Kathir) [Shafi, Ma‘arif al-Quran]

Dirham in the Time of Prophet Yusuf

A study of “coinage” in ancient Egypt, citing the article linked below, clearly shows that precious metals, especially silver, were used as money in the form of deben and sh‘t. During trade, the numbers of deben or sh‘t were specified, clearly suggesting that they were counted and of a standard metal quality as well as a standard weight.

The texts do not say that either deben or sh‘t were weighed or tested for quality during commercial transactions. Although very common from Ramesside times onward, the evidence of such transactions extends to the mid-5th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom Period, where a specific length of cloth is valued at six sh‘t in one particular market scene.

In assessing the evidence of coinage in ancient Egypt, Cerny concluded that sh‘ty “was a flat, round piece of metal, 1/12 deben, that is about 7.6 grams, in weight, possibly with an inscription to indicate this weight or the name of the issuing authority”, adding “If so, the ‘piece’ was practically a coin.”  Although Cerny’s assessment was startling, he was not far off the mark.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related

• Quranic Studies Curriculum (seekersguidance.org)
• Dirham in the Time of Joseph
• A Brief History of Money in Islam and Estimating the Value of Dirham and Dinar

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance? You can choose from the Islamic Studies Curriculum and progress through each course step by step.

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.