Transliteration:( Inna Qaaroona kaana min qawmi Moosaa fabaghaaa 'alaihim wa aatainaahu minal kunoozi maaa inna mafaati hahoo latanooo'u bil'usbati ulil quwwati iz qaala lahoo qawmuhoo laa tafrah innal laahaa laa yuhibbul fariheen )
184. Qaroon was the son of Hazrat Musa's (On whom be Peaces) uncle Yeshar. He was an outstanding scholar of the Taurah, very handsome, hospitable and polite. But after gaining wealth, he became a hypocrite. Like Samari, his genealogy is Qaroon, son of Yeshar, son of Fahish, son of Ladi, son of Hazrat Yacoob (On whom be peace). The following is the genealogy of Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace): Moosa bin Imraan bin Fahish, bin Ladi bin Yacoob (On whom be peace) (Roohul Bayaan) Qaroon's title was Munawwar due to his handsome appearance. For reason Qaroon is described here as the countryman of Hazrat Moosa (On whom be peace) Otherwise an infidel cannot be the countryman of a believer. Here genealogical nationality is intended.
185. In that he desired to have eminence over the as well as the post of Haroon for himself. Becoming supervisor of sacrifice himself. So that all the isrliites can sacrifice to Allah Almighty in his supervision only.
186. Because his keys would be loaded on forty mules and every key was of one complete treasure (Tafseer Roohul Bayan).
187. From this we learn that boasting is forbidden ie to become conceited. But happiness out of gratitude is an act of worship. Says Allah Almighty: "Say you only with Allah's Grace and His Mercy, on at therefore let them rejoice†(S10.V58). The happiness of Qaroon was due to his arrogance. Likewise, to become happy or committing a sin is forbidden, to become happy after performing an act of worship is better. Also, to celebrate happily, etc..
76. Verily, Qarun was of Musa’s people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. Remember when his people said to him: “Do not exult. Verily, Allah likes not those who exult.†77. “But seek, with that which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world; and be generous as Allah has been generous to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the mischief-makers.â€
It was recorded that Ibn `Abbas said:
(Verily, Qarun was of Musa’s people,) “He was the son of his paternal uncle.†This was also the view of Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, `Abdullah bin Al-Harith bin Nawfal, Sammak bin Harb, Qatadah, Malik bin Dinar, Ibn Jurayj and others; they all said that he was the cousin of Musa, peace be upon him. Ibn Jurayj said: “He was Qarun bin Yashar bin Qahith, and Musa was the son of `Imran bin Qahith.
(And We gave him of the treasures,) meaning, of wealth;
(that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.) Groups of strong men would not have been able to carry them because they were so many. Al-A`mash narrated from Khaythamah, “The keys of Qarun’s treasure were made of leather, each key like a finger, and each key was for a separate storeroom. When he rode anywhere, the keys would be carried on sixty mules with white blazes on their foreheads and white feet.†Other views were also given, and Allah knows best.
(Remember when his people said to him: “Do not exult. Verily, Allah likes not those who exult.â€) means, the righteous ones among his people exhorted him. By way of sincere advice and guidance, they said: “Do not exult in what you have,†meaning, `do not be arrogant and proud of your wealth.’
(Verily, Allah likes not those who exult.) Ibn `Abbas said, “This means, those who rejoice and gloat.†Mujahid said, “It means those who are insolent and reckless, and do not thank Allah for what He has given them.†His saying:
(But seek, with that which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world;) means, `use this great wealth and immense blessing Allah has given you to worship your Lord and draw closer to Him by doing a variety of good deeds which will earn you reward in this world and the Hereafter.’
(and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world;) `That which Allah has permitted of food, drink, clothing, dwelling places and women. Your Lord has rights over you, your self has rights over you, your family has rights over you, and your visitors have rights over you. So give each of them their due.’
(and be generous as Allah has been generous to you, ) `Be generous to His creatures, as He has been generous to you.’
(and seek not mischief in the land.) meaning: `do not let your aim be to spread corruption on earth and do harm to Allah’s creation.’
(Verily, Allah likes not the mischief-makers.)
94. This fact also is being related in continuation of the answer to the excuse which has been the theme of the discourse from (Surah Al-Qasas, ayat 57) onward. In this regard, one should bear in mind the fact that the people who feared that the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) message would affect the overall national interests adversely were, in fact, the big money owners, money lenders, and capitalists of Makkah, who by virtue of their international trade and money lending business had become the Korahs of their time. These were the people who thought that the real truth was to earn and amass maximum wealth. Anything that seemed to vitiate this object was an untruth which could not be accepted in any case. On the other hand, there were the common people who looked with longing eyes at these magnates and earnestly desired that they should also attain the same heights as those people had attained. In an atmosphere charged with the love of money, as it was, people considered it to be a weighty argument that if the invitation of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) towards Tauhid and the Hereafter and the moral code was accepted, it would spell ruin for the Quraish not only commercially but economically too. 95. Qarun who has been called Korah in the Bible and the Talmud was a first cousin of the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). According to the account of descent given in Exodus, the fathers of the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Korah were real brothers. At another place in the Quran it has been stated that this man had joined with Pharaoh in spite of being an Israelite and become one of his favorites; so much so that one of the two ring leaders of opposition to Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) after Pharaoh was this same Korah: “We sent Moses to Pharaoh and Haman and Korah with Our signs and a clear authority of appointment, but they said: He is a sorcerer, a liar.†(Surah Al-Mumin, Ayat 23-24).
From this it follows that Korah had rebelled against his own people and become a supporter of the hostile forces which were bent upon wiping out the Israelites. On account of this rebellion against his own people he had attained a high place with Pharaoh. The two persons, besides Pharaoh, to whom the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) had been sent were Pharaoh’s minister Haman, and this Israelite capitalist, Korah. All other chiefs and couriers were of inferior status, who were not worth mentioning. The same position of Korah has been alluded to in (Surah Al-Ankabut, Ayat 39).
96. In the story related of him in the Bible, there is no mention of this man’s wealth. But according to the Jewish traditions, he possessed immense wealth, so much so that three hundred mules were required to carry the keys of his treasures. Though greatly exaggerated, this statement shows that even according to the Israelite traditions, Korah was a very wealthy man of his time.
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