۞ إِنَّ قَـٰرُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْكُنُوزِ مَآ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُۥ لَتَنُوٓأُ بِٱلْعُصْبَةِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ لَا تَفْرَحْ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَرِحِينَ 76
Translations
Indeed, Qārūn was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him, "Do not exult. Indeed, Allāh does not like the exultant.
Transliteration
Inna Qaroona kana min qawmi Moosa fababgha alayhim wa ataynahoo mina al-kunoozi ma inna mafatihu latanu'u bil-ussbati ooli al-quwwati idh qala lahu qawmuhoo la tafrach inna Allaha la yuhibbu al-farihin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah introduces the story of Qarun (Korah), a wealthy man from Musa's people who became arrogant and tyrannical toward them despite Allah's abundant blessings upon him. The treasures Allah gave Qarun were so immense that their keys alone required a group of strong men to carry them. When his people warned him against excessive rejoicing and arrogance, reminding him that Allah does not love those who exult in their wealth, Qarun rejected their counsel—a warning against letting material prosperity breed transgression and heedlessness of divine boundaries.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qasam (The Stories), which recounts historical narratives as signs of Allah's truth. The story of Qarun serves as a cautionary tale for the Meccan audience about the dangers of wealth-induced arrogance and oppression. It contextually follows the story of Musa and relates to the broader Quranic theme that material abundance is a test from Allah, not a sign of favor or righteousness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are far better' (Quran 18:46), which complements the Qarun narrative by emphasizing that true success lies beyond material accumulation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Wealth and abundance are divine tests, not measures of spiritual superiority or divine favor; they demand gratitude, humility, and just treatment of others. The rejection of sincere counsel from righteous people, especially when motivated by arrogance, is a path to spiritual ruin and divine punishment.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ فَلَنْ أَكُونَ ظَهِيرًا لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ
He said, "My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals."
وَلَوْلَآ أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَوْلَآ أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـٰتِكَ وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And if not that a disaster should strike them for what their hands put forth [of sins] and they would say, "Our Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses and been among the believers?"...
وَدَخَلَ ٱلْمَدِينَةَ عَلَىٰ حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهَـٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِۦ ۖ فَٱسْتَغَـٰثَهُ ٱلَّذِى مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى ٱلَّذِى مِنْ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ فَقَضَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِينٌ
And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, "This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy."
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَنْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِضِيَآءٍ ۖ أَفَلَا تَسْمَعُونَ
Say, "Have you considered: if Allāh should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allāh could bring you light? Then will you not hear?"