20 Preface وَشَرَوهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخسٍ دَراهِمَ مَعدودَةٍ وَكانوا فيهِ مِنَ الزّاهِدينَYusuf AliThey sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams1 counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him!2Dirham; from Greek, drachma, a small silver coin, which varied in weight and value at different times and in different States. (R).And so the most precious of human lives in the age was sold into slavery for a few silver pieces! (R). 1658-A. In popular tradition the wife of the Egyptian courtier is identified as Zulaykha. [Eds].