Surah 28

Surah 28:78

"He said, ‘I have been given it only because of the knowledge (that is) in me.’ Did he not know that God had destroyed those of the generations before him who were stronger than him and had accumulated more? The sinners will not be questioned about their sins."
How Qarun went forth in His Finery, and His People's Comments Verses 28:78-80
Show Full Scripture Context (28:78-80) — 3 Verses
Verse 78

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عِندِيٓۚ أَوَلَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَهۡلَكَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ مَنۡ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُ قُوَّةٗ وَأَكۡثَرُ جَمۡعٗاۚ وَلَا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ

He said, ‘I have been given it only because of the knowledge (that is) in me.’ Did he not know that God had destroyed those of the generations before him who were stronger than him and had accumulated more? The sinners will not be questioned about their sins.

Verse 79

فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فِي زِينَتِهِۦۖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا يَٰلَيۡتَ لَنَا مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِيَ قَٰرُونُ إِنَّهُۥ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٖ

So he went forth to his people in his splendor. Those who desired this present life said, ‘Would that we had the same as what has been given to Qārūn! Surely he is indeed the possessor of great good luck.’

Verse 80

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ وَيۡلَكُمۡ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٞ لِّمَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗاۚ وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ

But those to whom knowledge had been given said, ‘Woe to you! The reward of God is better for the one who believes and does righteousness. But no one will obtain it except the patient.’

Quoted Scripture
"He said: "This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.""

He said: “Were it not for the fact that Allah is pleased with me and knows my virtue, He would not have given me this wealth.” And He said:

Quoted Scripture
"Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount they had collected?"

This is what those who have little knowledge say when they see a person whom Allah has granted a lot of wealth; they say that if he did not deserve it, Allah would not have given it to him.

Allah tells us how Qarun went forth one day before his people with his magnificent regalia; wearing his fine clothes, accompanied by. his fine horses, his servants and retinue. When those whose desires and inclinations were for the world saw his adornments and splendor, they wished that they could have the same as he had been given, and said:

Quoted Scripture
"Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun has been given! Verily, he is the owner of a great fortune."

meaning, 'he is very lucky and has a great share in this world.' When the people of beneficial knowledge heard this, they said to them:

Quoted Scripture
"Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for those who believe and do righteous deeds,"

'Allah's reward to His believing, righteous servants in the Hereafter is better than what you see,' as is reported in the authentic Hadith:

«Allah has prepared for His righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and the heart of a human cannot comprehend. Recite, if you wish: {No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.} (32:17)

Quoted Scripture
"and this none shall attain except the patient."

As-Suddi said: “None shall reach Paradise except for the patient” - as if this were the completion of the statement made by the people of knowledge. Ibn Jarir said, “This applies only to those who patiently forsake the love of this world, seeking the Hereafter. It is as if this is part of what the people of knowledge said, but it is made part of the Words of Allah, stating this fact.”

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.