Transliteration:( Fakhasafnaa bihee wa bidaarihil arda famaa kaana lahoo min fi'atiny yansuroo nahoo min doonil laahi wa maa kaana minal muntasireen )
202. The incident which led to sink him into the ground is as follows: When the Israelites were given the command to pay their Zakaat, Qaroon came to Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) and said I cannot give one quarter of my wealth, in Zakaat. However, if you tell me to take out one thousandth part I will do so. Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) agreed to receive that. When he came home and calculated one thousandth part of his wealth he found that also to be too much. He could not bear to give that as well. Eventually, he called all his friends to inform them that now Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) wants to take control over your wealth to make you poor. Devised such a plan that will take the respect for Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) out of the hearts of Israelites. They had obtained the services of a beautiful lady by giving her one thousand pieces of gold and the promise of many other things to accuse of Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) of this despicable crime. The following day they had assembled the Israelites and called Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) under the pretext of delivering a sermon. He came and delivered a sermon in the assembly in mentioning to the punishment of various crimes including adultery. He said if the adulterer is a bachelor he should be given a hundred lashes; if he is a married person, he shall be stoned to death.
On hearing this Qaroon spoke that the Israelites are of the opinion that you had (May Allah forbid) committed adultery with a certain woman. To this Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) replied "Call this woman." She came forward but on seeing KALEEMULLAH she began to tremble with awe, and said that Qaroon had given me one thousand pieces of gold to make this slanderous accusation against you.
But without doubt, you are innocent and free of any fault. On hearing this Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) fell into Sajdah and he cursed Qaroon. At this, the command of Allah Almighty came to him that the earth is in your control. Whatever command you are going to give, it will respond. He lifted his blessed head from the Sajdah and said: Those who are with Qaroon should sit by him, but those who are disgusted with him should move away from him. Hearing this all the companions of Qaroon, besides two moved away from him. Thereafter he said: "O earth! Catch them" Thus, they were sunk into the ground up to their knees. Again Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) said 'catch them? They were now sunk up to their waists. On the third command they were sunk up to their necks. Some people began to wag their tongues that Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) wants to seize the wealth of Qaroon. On hearing this, KALEEMULLAH commanded the earth! Seize the treasures and properties of Qaroon as well. Thus everything of his was totally sunk into the earth.
81. So, We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves. 82. And those who desired his position the day before, began to say: “Know you not that it is Allah Who expands the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His servants. Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up! Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful.”
After telling us about Qarun’s conceit and pride in his adornments, and how he was arrogant towards his people and transgressed against them, Allah then tells us how he and his dwelling place were swallowed up by the earth. This was also reported in the Sahih by Al-Bukhari from Salim, who said that his father told him that the Messenger of Allah said:
(While a man was dragging his lower garment, he was swallowed up and he will remain sinking down into the earth until the Day of Resurrection.) He also recorded something similar from Salim from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet . Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id said, “The Messenger of Allah said:
(When a man among the people who came before you went out wearing two green garments, walking proudly and arrogantly, Allah commanded the earth to swallow him up, and he will remain sinking down into it until the Day of Resurrection.) This version was recorded only by Ahmad, and its chain of narration is Hasan (sound).
(Then he had no group to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.) means, his wealth, group, servants and retinue were of no avail to him; they could not protect him from the wrath and vengeance of Allah. Nor could he help himself or save himself. There was no one to help him, neither himself nor anybody else.
Allah’s saying:
(And those who had desired his position the day before,) means, those witnessed him with his finery and said:
(Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: “Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun has been given! Verily, he is the owner of a great fortune.”) When he was swallowed up in the earth, they began to say:
(Know you not that it is Allah Who expands the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His servants.) Wealth does not indicate that Allah is pleased with its owner, for Allah gives and withholds, allows times of difficulty and times of ease, raises and lowers, His is the most complete wisdom and most convincing proof. According to a Hadith narrated by Ibn Mas`ud,
(Allah has alloted character among you just as He has alloted your provision. Allah gives wealth to those whom He loves and those whom He does not love, but He gives Faith only to those whom He loves.)
(Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up!) meaning, `were it not for the kindness and grace of Allah towards us, we could have been swallowed up by the earth just as he was swallowed up, because we wanted to be like him.’
(Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful.) He was a disbeliever, and the disbelievers will never be successful before Allah in this world or in the Hereafter.
(28:81) At last We caused the earth to swallow him and his house. Thereafter there was no group of people that could come to his aid against Allah; nor was he able to come to his own aid.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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