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
فَعَمِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبَآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَهُمْ لَا يَتَسَآءَلُونَ
But the information will be unapparent to them that Day, so they will not [be able to] ask one another.
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And He is Allāh; there is no deity except Him. To Him is [due all] praise in the first [life] and the Hereafter. And His is the [final] decision, and to Him you will be returned.
وَأَصْبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا۟ مَكَانَهُۥ بِٱلْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ ۖ لَوْلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ۖ وَيْكَأَنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
And those who had wished for his position the previous day began to say, "Oh, how Allāh extends provision to whom He wills of His servants and restricts it! If not that Allāh had conferred favor on us, He would have caused it to swallow us. Oh, how the disbelievers do not succeed!"
فَأَمَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُفْلِحِينَ
But as for one who had repented, believed, and done righteousness, it is expected [i.e., promised by Allāh] that he will be among the successful.