Surah Al-Qasas 28:76-82 - Quran Translation Commentary

76. Qaroon was one of Moosa’s people, but he committed excesses against them¹⁴³ And We had given him such treasures that their keys could be carried by sturdy men with difficulty.¹⁴⁴ His people said to him: “Do not exult¹⁴⁵ (in your riches); Allah does not love the exultant.¹⁴⁶

77. And seek, by means of what Allah has given you, to attain the abode of the Hereafter,¹⁴⁷ and do not forget your share in this world.¹⁴⁸ Be good to others as Allah has been good to you,¹⁴⁹ and do not strive for corruption in the world.¹⁵⁰Verily Allah does not love strivers for corruption.

78. He said: “This has been given me on account of the knowledge I possess.”¹⁵¹ Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him from the generations men who were mightier than him in strength and greater in respect of following’? ¹⁵² The guilty are not questioned of their sins.¹⁵³

79. Then he went out in full pomp before his people. ¹⁵⁴ Those who loved the life of this world said: ‘Would that we had the like of what (fortune) Qaroon had! Indeed be is very lucky.’¹⁵⁵

80. But those to whom knowledge had been given said: ‘Alas for you!’ Better is the reward of Allah for him who believes and acts righteously, and none shall attain it save the patient.¹⁵⁶

81. So we caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place.¹⁵⁷ Then he found no group to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could defend themselves.¹⁵⁸

82. And those who on the day before had coveted his fortune said: ‘ Ah! Allah gives abundantly to whom He will, and sparingly to whom He pleases. Had he not shown us favour, He could have caused the earth to swallow us.’ Ah ! The disbelievers never prosper.¹⁵⁹

Commentary

143. About Qaroon Qur’an clearly states that he was one of Prophet Moosa’s people, a Bani Israil, but he had rebelled against his community and had joined Firaun. In other words he had become a traitor to his own community and had achieved an important position with Firaun. He indulged in oppressing and tyrannising Bani Israil, which was the Muslim ummah. Qur’an also clarifies that as Moosa was sent to Firaun and Haman, so also was Moosa sent to Qaroon. This proves that all of them were the birds of the same feather:

“And verily We sent Moosa with Our revelation and with a clear warrant to Firaun and Haman and Qaroon, but they said: ‘A lying magician ! ” -(Al-Mumin 23-24)

From this it also becomes clear that Qaroon lived at the time when Prophet Moosa was in Egypt, therefore, the presumption of some of the commentators that this event took place during the Bani Israil’s wandering in the desert, is wrong. As for the Bible’s story that during Bani Israil’s wandering in the desert, one Korah, who was a cousin of Prophet Moosa’s rebelled against him with a group of people, and they were punished by the earth swallowing them. (Numbers: Chap.16). This Korah could have been some other person, for the Bible does not also refer to his being a very rich person and there is also a difference in the names. It is also possible that Qaroon’s incident might not have been retained in memory. Therefore, we should ignore the Israili traditions and be satisfied with what Qur’an tells us which is clear as well as instructive.

144. The keys of the treasures of Qaroon should not be compared with the keys of the modern times, which are small in size and light in weight. In the ancient days there were no safes and cupboards where riches could be stored, but the wealth used to be buried in the ground or kept in a safe place and very big locks used to be placed on the doors, These locks required very big and heavy keys to open them. Allah had given so much wealth to Qaroon that he needed a lot of strong labourers to carry the keys of his treasures from one place to another place. Possibly these keys might have been rods and their being heavy would not have been an exaggeration, but the expression of a fact. It may also be noted that in the ancient days treasures comprised of noble metals like gold and silver and valuable stones, and not like today’s currency notes, which are the inventions of the modern times.

145. Qaroon was very much proud of his being a wealthy man and he had adopted ostentatious ways.

146. Only that person exults who, getting some valuables, considers that it is his achievement and not a blessing from Allah, and for this reason he feels proud. Such a person is self-loving and selfish, Allah does not like such persons.

147. Allah has not given you this wealth so that you may sit over it guarding like a snake, nor for exulting over it but for spending it in His way, to make it a means of success in the Hereafter. It is proper to save riches to a suitable extent after spending it for meeting the needs of one’s family, wife and children, etc., so that in future also one’s needs may be satisfied, but to save it in the form of treasure-building is not right, particularly when the fellow human beings are starving for lack of money or they may be in great need of it, or there may be pressing need for the propagation of religion requiring money.

In Egypt when Prophet Moosa had launched his mission, the condition of Bani Israil was very pathetic. Therefore, Qaroon should have opened the doors of his treasure houses for the help and support of Allah’s religion and of his community, Bani Israil, and he should have made this good work a means of good fortune in the next world. But he became a capitalist and when he spent his money it was for showing off his riches.

From this and other similar ayat it becomes clear that Islam does not allow that wealth should be stored and safes be filled with valuables or the bank balance be increased tremendously. This is Mammon-worship and not God-worship. A person who is God-loving and who considers the Hereafter his ultimate goal would never strive to store money. Such work is done only by persons whose goal is success in this world alone.

148. It does not mean that you should strive to earn for this world only, for it is not necessary to say such a thing to a capitalist. But it means that you should not forget that in the riches of the world your share is very little. The benefits of the world are for a few days only and your share in the wealth that you have got is only to the extent of your needs. All the rest is for meeting the needs of the other slaves of Allah and for the requirements of the religion. Such a concept about wealth cuts at the root of Capitalism.

149. That is: As Allah dealt with you in such a kind and good way that He has given you unlimited riches, in the same way you should also deal with the other slaves of Allah in a kind and good way and spend your wealth in removing their poverty and misery.

150. The word ‘Fasad’ used here means distortion ‘or corruption, and here it means that corruption which is created in the society’s beliefs, morals, way of living, civilisation and politics. The wealth of the capitalists becomes a great means of corrupting the society, therefore, the present day Qaroons are the abominable sores of the body politic.

151. That is: I have achieved this wealth through my knowledge and technique. This is not a favour from God that I should be thankful to Him. This is the way of thinking of the disbelievers. They think that the riches earned by them is the result of their own capability and endeavours, and then they exult over it. There are very capable men who are unsuccessful in earning wealth, and there are many less capable persons who become very rich. It is a proof of the fact that the riches in this world are achieved by people not through their efforts only, but through the favour of Allah.

152. Saying these blasphemous words, he forgot what has become of the earlier generation with more strength and more following how they were destroyed ? Does he not know the events of Aa’d and Thamud, who were proud of their architectural technique and their strength, and how they were destroyed’? And he is following the same path, then how can he think himself to be safe from the divine punishment?

153. When the time of destruction of a guilty nation comes, then Allah does not question that nation, but destroys it instantly. Because when their reprieve is ended, they became liable for receiving their punishment. If they are asked, they would only offer some excuses, but that would not avert their punishment.

154. One day Qaroon appeared before his community in full pomp and glittering robes. it was a very attractive exhibition for the poor people.

155. One who said these words was from the Bani Israil who was under the influence of materialism. When the poor people saw Qaroon in such a grand state, they were very much impressed and said that he was a very fortunate person, and they wished that such abundant wealth were available to them also. Today also poor and middle class people are attracted by the glitter and pomp of the big capitalists and wealthy men and they also feel that they should also get so much riches. It shows what is the standard of good and bad fortune and success and failure with these people.

156. Here knowledge means knowledge of reality, that is: those who had the Hereafter as their goal, they felt sorry for the mentality of these materialists and said that real success is not abundance of wealth but it is that everlasting reward which the pious and virtuous slaves of Allah will get from Him for their good deeds. To be worthy of this reward it is necessary for men to be patient and persevering in this world, i.e. they should make the Hereafter as their goal and stick to the Truth, and to be satisfied with whatever they get by lawful means. A person who develops this attribute in him is in reality a fortunate person.

It is learnt that in Egypt there were corrupt people among the Bani Israil as well as righteous and people of faith who had made the Hereafter as their goal. Among the Muslims of the modern times also these two types of people are found.

157. Allah’s punishment cracked down on Qaroon in this way that he sunk into the earth along with all his treasures, and the house in which he had kept his treasures became his grave. This tragic and instructive end of Qaroon is the end of a tyrant and rebel capitalist which is a lesson for the people till the end of the world, as if Allah has shown a glimpse of the punishment of the Hereafter; in this world, so that people may avoid falling a prey to wealth-worship, which makes a man a rebel against God and a materialist and world-worshipper.

158. When Allah’s punishment comes, all supports become useless, neither it is in the power of his close companions to help him nor is it within the power of the government, nor is it possible for him to save himself.

159.This group of Bani Israil, who was under the influence of the glitter of the world, took a lesson from the tragic end of Qaroon. They realised that these wealthy people and capitalists who exhibit their grandeur and pomp are not worth envying, for Allah gives abundant wealth whom He will and gives sparingly whom He pleases so that he may be tested. Therefore, anybody’s being wealthy is not a proof of his being successful.