Surah Al Qasas Tafseer

Qarun and His People's exhortation

Allah says:

إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَى فَبَغَى عَلَيْهِمْ

Verily, Qarun was of Musa's people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them.

It was recorded that Ibn Abbas said:

إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَى

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."

وَاتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ

And We gave him of the treasures,

meaning, of wealth;

مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ

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.

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ

Remember when his people said to him:"Do not exult. Verily, Allah likes not those who exult."

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.'

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ

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