MUSJIDUL HAQ

Download PDF: [S] The Punishment of Qarun

Qarun was the paternal cousin of Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him. His father’s name was Yashar. Qarun was also very good looking and handsome. This is the reason that when many people saw him, they called him “Munawwar.” He was also very learned in the Taurah and considered to be someone with very good manners and for this reason many people respected him.

However, when wealth began to come to Qarun in abundance, then his attitude began to change. And like the Saamiri, he also became an ardent enemy of Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him. Qarun became very boastful and suffered from immense pride. When the command for Zakah was revealed to Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him, he also promised that he would give his share. When he calculated this portion, he realised that it would be a very large amount and instead of keeping to his promise, he also started to mislead other members of the Bani Israeel that Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – was actually after their wealth. He went to such an extent that he even bribed a lady with a large amount of money and made her claim in public that Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – had committed adultery with her.

As a matter of fact, while Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – was addressing the people, Qarun approached this crowd and interrupted him by claiming that he had committed adultery with a certain female. Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – then asked him to bring this female forward. This female was then called in front.

Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – then asked her, “By the Name of Allah! Who had split the mountain for the Bani Israeel and also split the sea thereby saving the people from Pharaoh, tell us the actual truth.”

Looking at the immense anger of Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him –, this female began to tremble and in this crowd she declared, “O the Prophet of Allah! I have been given a large amount of money by Qarun to falsely accuse you.”

At that moment Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – fell in Sajdah and while in Sajdah, he made Du’a, “O Allah! Reveal your Divine Punishment upon Qarun.”

He then looked at the crowd and declared, “Those who are the friends of Qarun should stand with him and those who are my friends should separate themselves from him.”

Thereafter, only two extremely evil people stood with Qarun while the rest of them separated themselves from him. Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – then ordered the earth to hold him. Suddenly, he was swallowed up by the earth until his knees. When he again commanded the earth, Qarun was sunk into the earth until his waist. At this time, Qarun began to plead and use his family connection as an excuse but Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – paid no attention to this. Thereafter, he was completely swallowed up by the earth.

Before they had also been destroyed the friends of Qarun had also mentioned to people that Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – only wanted to destroy Qarun because he wanted the wealth of Qarun for himself. Finally, Nabi Moosa – peace be upon him – also made Du’a that the wealth and property of Qarun be also destroyed. Thereafter, the house of Qarun which was built with gold and all his riches were also swallowed up by the earth.

In Surah Qasas (28) verse 76:

اِنَّ قٰرُوۡنَ کَانَ مِنۡ قَوْمِ مُوۡسٰی فَبَغٰی عَلَیۡہِمْ ۪ وَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ مِنَ الْکُنُوۡزِ مَاۤ اِنَّ مَفَاتِحَہٗ لَتَنُوۡٓاُ بِالْعُصْبَۃِ اُولِی الْقُوَّۃِ ٭ اِذْ قَالَ لَہٗ قَوْمُہٗ لَا تَفْرَحْ اِنَّ اللہَ لَا یُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِیۡنَ ﴿۷۶﴾

“Undoubtedly, Qarun was of the people of Moosa, then he showed high handedness against them, and We gave him so much treasures whose keys were a heavy burden over a party of strong men. When his people said to him, exult not, undoubtedly Allah loves not those who exult.”