Transliteration:( Qaala innamaaa ootee tuhoo 'alaa 'ilmin 'indeee; awalam ya'lam annal laaha qad ahlaka min qablihee minal qurooni man huwa ashaddu minhu quwwatanw wa aksaru jam'aa; wa laa yus'alu 'an zunoobihimul mujrimoon )
"He said, 'This has been given to me only because of a knowledge I possess [192]. Does he not know that Allah has destroyed [193] before him such generations who were stronger than him and greater in accumulation [194]? And the criminals will not be questioned about their sins [195].'"
Qaroon arrogantly attributed his wealth to his own knowledge, saying it was due to a special skill he possessed.
This knowledge could refer to his understanding of the Torah, or alchemy, which he learned from Hazrat Musa (عليه السلام), including transforming metals like tin into silver or copper into gold.
Others interpret it as knowledge of commerce, agriculture, or trade skills.
However, his claim dismissed the grace of Allah and was rooted in self-conceit.
He believed that his wealth, knowledge, and status made him immune to any divine punishment.
Allah rebukes this by reminding that greater and more powerful nations were destroyed before him, despite their strength and resources.
Examples include ‘Ād, Thamūd, and the followers of Namrood, who had immense power yet faced Divine wrath for their arrogance.
“Greater in accumulation” refers both to wealth and massive gatherings of followers or armies, while "stronger" refers to physical might and health.
No matter how great their physical strength or social status, when the command of Allah came, none could resist.
This part means that on the Day of Judgement:
Allah will not need to ask the criminals about their sins to know them—it will be manifest on their faces.
In another phase, they will be questioned, but only to humiliate and expose them, not to acquire information.
Thus, two scenarios are possible: sometimes Allah will not question, and sometimes He will—to disgrace.
This verse exposes the arrogance of Qaroon and all who believe that their success is solely due to their own efforts, ignoring the Divine will and past examples of destruction for such pride.
78. He said: “This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount they had collected But the criminals will not be questioned of their sins.
(He said: “This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.”) meaning, `I have no need of your advice; Allah has only given me this wealth because He knows that I deserve it and because He loves me. ‘ In other words: `He has given it to me because He knows that I am fit for this.’ This is like the Ayat:
(When harm touches man, he calls upon Us; then when We have changed it into a favor from Us, he says: “Only because of knowledge I obtained it.”) (39:49) An alternative interpretation of this Ayah says that the meaning is: “Only because of what Allah knows about me did I obtain this favor.” This is like His saying:
(And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from Us, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say: “This is from me.”) (41:50) meaning, “I deserved it.” Imam `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam explained this Ayah very well. Concerning the phrase,
(He said: “This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.”) He said: “Were it not for the fact that Allah is pleased with me and knows my virtue, He would not have given me this wealth.” And He said:
(Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount they had collected) This is what those who have little knowledge say when they see a person whom Allah has granted a lot of wealth; they say that if he did not deserve it, Allah would not have given it to him.
(28:78) He replied: “All this has been given to me on account of a certain knowledge that I have.”[97] Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him those who were stronger in might[98] than he and were more numerous in multitude? The wicked are not asked about their acts of sin.[99]
97. The words of the text can have two meanings: (1) “Whatever I have obtained is by virtue of my own ability. It is not a bounty which somebody else might have given me as a favor without my deserving it as a right, and now I may have to render thanks for it by giving a portion of it to those who have not been given anything, as a favor, or give some of it in charity so that the bounty is not withdrawn from me.” (2) “I think God has given me this wealth in view of my qualities and excellences. Had I not been a likable person, He would not have given me all this. That He has bestowed on me all kinds of blessings is a proof that I am His favorite and he approves of the way of life that I am following.”
98. That is, “Did this person who was proud of being so knowledgeable and wise and well informed and capable never know that people with greater wealth and grandeur and power and might than him had lived before him in the world, and Allah at last, had annihilated them completely? If capability and skill and competence are the only factors conducive to worldly progress, then why didn’t these virtues avail them when they were destroyed? And if the worldly progress of a person is a sure proof that Allah is pleased with him and approves of his deeds and qualities, then why were those people doomed to destruction at all?”
99. That is, “The criminals have always been claiming to be the best people, who are free from every evil, but their punishment is not dependent on their own confessions. Whenever they are seized; they are not seized on the basis of their own confessions of sins, etc.”
[1119]- There will be no need to enumerate their sins separately, as their quantity is obvious and more than sufficient to warrant punishment in Hell.
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