فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فِى زِينَتِهِۦ ۖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا يَـٰلَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ قَـٰرُونُ إِنَّهُۥ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ 79
Translations
So he came out before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, "Oh, would that we had like what was given to Qārūn. Indeed, he is one of great fortune."
Transliteration
Fakharaja alá qawmihi fí zeenatih. Qála alladhína yurídún al-hayáta ad-dunyá yá layitná mithla má útiya Qarún, innahu la-dhú hafzin azím.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Qarun emerging before his people in his full adornment and worldly display, whereupon those who desired the life of this world expressed their envy, wishing they possessed wealth like his, recognizing his immense fortune. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this depicts the corrupting influence of material wealth and the way it captivates the hearts of those enamored with worldly life, causing them to abandon spiritual values and pursue temporal gains. The ayah serves as a cautionary tale about how excessive wealth can lead to arrogance and how the desire for worldly possessions can blind people to moral and spiritual realities.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the story of Qarun (Korah), a wealthy man from the people of Musa who was given immense treasures but became arrogant and unjust with his wealth. The surah Al-Qasas narrates various stories illustrating divine justice and the consequences of disbelief and transgression. This particular verse emphasizes the social impact of his ostentatious display and how worldly desire corrupts the hearts of observers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Two hungry wolves sent among sheep would not cause more destruction than a man's desire for wealth and status causes to his religion' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Wealth and children are the adornment of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Quran 18:46), which thematically relates to the contrast between worldly adornment and true value.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that excessive wealth and material display can be spiritually destructive, both for the wealthy person and for those who witness it with envy and desire. True fortune lies not in accumulating possessions but in righteousness, humility, and obedience to Allah, as worldly riches are temporary and often become a test of character.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ ٱلْهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَآ ۚ أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا ءَامِنًا يُجْبَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَٰتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رِّزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they [i.e., the Quraysh] say, "If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be swept from our land." Have We not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.
إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَآئِفَةً مِّنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn] sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَغْوَيْنَآ أَغْوَيْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا غَوَيْنَا ۖ تَبَرَّأْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۖ مَا كَانُوٓا۟ إِيَّانَا يَعْبُدُونَ
Those upon whom the word will have come into effect will say, "Our Lord, these are the ones we led to error. We led them to error just as we were in error. We declare our disassociation [from them] to You. They did not used to worship [i.e., obey] us."
وَمِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُوا۟ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And out of His mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and [by day] seek from His bounty and [that] perhaps you will be grateful.