11. THE STORY OF QAROON WITH MOOSA
Allah, Most High, says, “Verily, Qaroon (Korah) was of Moosa’s people, but he behaved arrogantly toward them. And We gave him the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his people said to him, ‘Do not exult; verily! Allah likes not those who exult. But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and be generous as Allah has been Generous to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the mufsidoon (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers and corrupt people).’ He said, ‘This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.’ Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected. But the mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists and sinners, etc.) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account). So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said, ‘Ah, would that we had the like of what Qaroon has been given! Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune.’ But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said, ‘Woe to you! The Reward of Allah is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth).’ So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves. And those who had desired (a position like) his position the day before, began to say, ‘Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His slaves? Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)! Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful? That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the muttaqoon’.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:76-83)
It is reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “Qaroon was Moosa’s cousin. Qatadah said that he was called An-Noor (the Light) because of his pleasant voice when reciting the Tawrah. But the enemy of Allah was guilty of hypocrisy, like the hypocrisy of As-Samiri, and he was destroyed by his wrongdoing, because of his wealth.
Allah, Most High, described his enormous wealth to the extent that a group of strong men would have found the keys to his treasures heavy to carry. It was also said that his wealth was in animal skins and that it was carried on sixty mules. And Allah knows better. The advisers among his people had admonished him, saying, “Do not exult. Verily! Allah likes not those who exult” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:76) means do not be proud because of what you have been given and do not behave arrogantly toward others. “But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:77) They were saying, “Let your priority be the attainment of Allah’s Reward in the abode of the Hereafter, because it is better than and more lasting.” And at the same time, “…and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:77) That is, take from your property what Allah has made lawful to you and enjoy yourself with it in a lawful manner. “…and be generous as Allah has been Generous to you” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:77) means be good to Allah’s creation, just as their Creator has been good to you. “…and seek not mischief in the land.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:77) It means that do not act meanly toward them, do not spread corruption among them and do not treat them in a manner contrary to that which you were commanded to do, for (if you do that), He will punish you and take what He has given you away from you. “Verily, Allah likes not the mufsidoon.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:77) But his reply to this correct and eloquent advice from his people was naught but to say, “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:78) That is, I have no need to act upon what you have mentioned or what you have indicated, because Allah has only given me this (wealth) because He knows that I deserve it and am worthy of it; and if I was not beloved by Him, He would not have given me what He has given me. But Allah answered him, saying, “Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected. But the mujrimoon will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account)” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:78) means We have destroyed previous generations because of their sins and offenses – and they possessed much greater power and wealth and more children than Qaroon. So if what he says is correct; We would not punish anyone who had more wealth than he. His wealth is not a proof of Our Love for him or Our Care for him, as He, Most High, says, “And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us (i.e. pleases Allah), but only he (will please Us) who believes (in Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds; as for such, there will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (Paradise) in peace and security.” (Soorah Saba’ 34:37) And He, Most High says, “Do they think that We enlarge them in wealth and children, We hasten unto them with good things (in this worldly life so that they will have no share of good things in the Hereafter)? Nay, but they perceive not.” (Soorah Al-Mu’minoon 23:55, 56)
Allah, Most High, says, “So he went forth before his people in his pomp.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:79) Many of the scholars of tafseer said that he would set out with great pomp and ceremony, wearing fine clothes and riding in a beautiful carriage, with servants and retinue and when those who are impressed by the splendor of the life of this world saw him, they wished that they had wealth like his and were envious of his situation. When the scholars – those who possessed correct understanding, the intelligent and ascetic – heard their words, they said to them, “Woe to you! The Reward of Allah is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:80) That is, Allah’s Reward in the abode of the Hereafter is better, more lasting, more splendid and more exalted. Allah, Most High, says, “…and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth)” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:80) means none shall attain this advice, this statement and this high-mindedness zeal for the abode of the Hereafter, which is much superior when compared to the embellishments of this inferior, Earthly life – except those whose hearts Allah guides and makes firm, whose understanding He supports and whose aims and goals He causes to be achieved. And how fine is the saying of one of the Salaf, who said, “Verily, Allah loves penetrating insight in cases of doubt or obscurity and perfect rationality in cases of vain desire.” Allah, Most High, says, “So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:81) After describing how he would set out with his pomp and his pride therein, showing disdain toward the people because of it, Allah said, “So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place.”
As narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari in the Hadith of Az-Zuhri, who reported on the authority of Salim, who in turn reported on the authority of his father, who reported from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said, “While a man was dragging his izar (lower garment) on the ground (behind him), suddenly Allah made him sink into the earth and he will go on sinking into it till the Day of Resurrection.”
And Allah, Most High, says, “Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:81) There was no one to help him – neither he himself nor any other, as Allah says, “Then will (man) have no power, nor any helper.” (Soorah At-Tariq 86:10) And when the swallowing of the earth, the loss of his wealth, the ruin of his house and the destruction of him, his family and his landed property befell him, those who had wished for wealth such as he had been given repented and thanked Allah, Who organizes the affairs of His slaves as He wills, in the best way. This is why they said, “Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)! Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful?” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:82)
Then He, Most High, informs us of that “That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise)” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:83) – and that is the everlasting abode, the abode which those who are given it will be happy and will be comforted by the (beautiful) women therein. And it is only prepared for those who desire not grandeur and greatness in this world, nor corruption. Grandeur is pride, arrogance and insolence and corruption is acts of disobedience, such as taking the wealth of the people by force, corrupting their way of life, treating them badly and not advising them. Then He, Most High, says, “And the good end is for the muttaqoon (pious).” (Soorah Al-Qasas 28:83)
Allah, Most High, has described the censure of Qaroon in more than one Verse of the Qur’an: He, Most High, says, “And indeed We sent Moosa with Our Ayat, and a manifest authority, to Fir’awn, Haman and Qaroon, but they called (him) “a sorcerer, a liar!” (Soorah Ghafir 40:23,24)
And Imam Ahmad has narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) that one day he mentioned the prayer, saying, “Whoever observes it (regularly and conscientiously) will have a light, a proof and salvation on the Day of Resurrection. But he who does not observe it will have no light, no proof and no salvation; and on the Day of Resurrection, he will be with Qaroon, Fir‘awn, Haman and ‘Ubayy Ibn Khalaf.” Imam Ahmad was alone in narrating this.
By Ibn Katheer
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