Lessons from Qaroon

[28:76] Qaroon (the slave driver) was one of Moses’ people who betrayed them and oppressed them. We gave him so many treasures that the keys thereof were almost too heavy for the strongest band. His people said to him, "Do not be so arrogant; GOD does not love those who are arrogant.

[28:79] One day, he came out to his people in full splendor. Those who preferred this worldly life said, “Oh, we wish that we possessed what Qaroon has attained. Indeed, he is very fortunate.”

The above verse pits one disbeliever against others, and all speak and act to reveal their ignorance. Qaroon, in his arrogance, shows off to those around him—although everyone already knows how rich he is, he has to bolster his ego and pamper his pride by evoking their envious reactions. And they are no better— rather than seeing Qaroon for the arrogant disbeliever he was, they instead coveted what he had and wished to be like him. They will get their wish—they will share Hell with him.

[28:80] As for those who were blessed with knowledge, they said,

“Woe to you, GOD’s recompense is far better for those who believe and lead a righteous life.” None attains this except the steadfast.

God says that one who is blessed with knowledge is not equal to one who remains ignorant. We can see the difference here. The believers—those who preferred the Hereafter to this world—immediately recognize that Qaroon’s evil ways are not something to be envied, and that all of his wealth will be a burden for him to bear on the Day of Judgment. The steadfast give priority to truth and eternity, rather than the fleeting pleasures of the illusion of this life.

[28:81] We then caused the earth to swallow him and his mansion. No army could have helped him against GOD; he was not destined to be a winner.

God warns the disbelievers, then proves that His words are true by giving them the fate they deserve. God knows already who among us will believe and who will remain ignorant, and we are each destined for Heaven or Hell. This destiny is inescapable and absolute, and we must treat it as such and respect God, or else we will be with the losers.

[28:82] Those who were envious of him the day before said,

“Now we realize that GOD is the One who provides for whomever He chooses from among His servants, and withholds. If it were not for GOD’s grace towards us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us too. We now realize that the disbelievers never succeed.”

Mashallah, God knows what we do not know. He knew that not all of the disbelievers in the community were wretched like Qaroon, thus He turned Qaroon into a lesson for the people. They are forced to acknowledge that it is only by the grace of their Lord that they did not suffer the same fate as Qaroon, and to realize that appearances in this world are deceiving. They are forced to place priority on the Hereafter, and they thus become believers. God be praised for His mercy towards the people.

One thing to note—Qaroon, because he was blessed with so much more than the others, had a greater burden to appreciate his Lord than they did, in my opinion. Because he refused to give credit to his Lord for the provisions his Lord had given to him, he was punished and made into an example for those less fortunate.

Reshma