Surah 28:82
Show Full Scripture Context (28:81-82) — 2 Verses
فَخَسَفۡنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ مِن فِئَةٖ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنتَصِرِينَ
So We caused the earth to swallow him and his home, and he had no cohort to help him, other than God, and he was not one of those who could help themselves.
وَأَصۡبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوۡاْ مَكَانَهُۥ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيۡكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقۡدِرُۖ لَوۡلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَاۖ وَيۡكَأَنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ
In the morning those who had longed (to be in) his place the day before were saying, ‘Woe (to Qārūn)! Surely God extends (His) provision to whomever He pleases of His servants, and restricts (it). If God had not bestowed favor on us, He would indeed have caused (the earth) to swallow us (too). Woe to him! The disbelievers will not prosper.’
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).
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.
His People learned a Lesson from Him being swallowed up
Allah's saying:
means, those witnessed him with his finery and said:
When he was swallowed up in the earth, they began to say:
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.»
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.'
He was a disbeliever, and the disbelievers will never be successful before Allah in this world or in the Hereafter.