Surah Al Qasas Tafseer

How Qarun and His Dwelling Place were swallowed up by the Earth

Allah tells:

فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الاَْرْضَ

So, We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place.

After telling us about Qarun's conceit and pride in his adornments, and how he was arrogant towards his people and transgressed against them, Allah then tells us how he and his dwelling place were swallowed up by the earth.

This was also reported in the Sahih by Al-Bukhari from Salim, who said that his father told him that the Messenger of Allah said:

بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَجُرُّ إِزَارَهُ إِذْ خُسِفَ بِهِ فَهُوَ يَتَجَلْجَلُ فِي الاَْرْضِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَة

While a man was dragging his lower garment, he was swallowed up and he will remain sinking down into the earth until the Day of Resurrection.

He also recorded something similar from Salim from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id said,

"The Messenger of Allah said:

بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ فِيمَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ خَرَجَ فِي بُرْدَيْنِ أَخْضَرَيْنِ يَخْتَالُ فِيهِمَا أَمَرَ اللهُ الاَْرْضَ فَأَخَذَتْهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَيَتَجَلْجَلُ فِيهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَة

When a man among the people who came before you went out wearing two green garments, walking proudly and arrogantly, Allah commanded the earth to swallow him up, and he will remain sinking down into it until the Day of Resurrection.

This version was recorded only by Ahmad, and its chain of narration is Hasan (sound).

فَمَا كَانَ لَهُ مِن فِيَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ المُنتَصِرِينَ

Then he had no group to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.

means, his wealth, group, servants and retinue were of no avail to him; they could not protect him from the wrath and vengeance of Allah. Nor could he help himself or save himself. There was no one to help him, neither himself nor anybody else.

His People learned a Lesson from Him being swallowed up

Allah's saying