Page 82 - Fear of Allah
P. 82

FEAR OF ALLAH
               It is not possible for people to become arrogant and overween-
            ing so long as they remain aware that it is Allah Who created every-
            thing from nothing, and Who has provided us with all of the
            characteristics and the potential we possess, and that He is able to
            withdraw everything He has provided us with whenever He
            wishes, and that all living things are temporary and only His exis-
            tence is eternal. However, only those people who forget their limita-
            tions and whose corrupted intellects fail to comprehend these
            matters would ever attempt to be so bold. This was the case with
            Qarun, whose behavior Allah has related in the Qur'an as an exam-
            ple to all mankind.
               The reason behind Qarun's hubris and his inability to fear Allah,
            was his wealth. He had forgotten that all wealth belongs to Allah
            and if He wished He could reclaim this wealth. Instead, he with his
            shalow mentality,  imagined that these treasures had been acquired
            by him as a result of his own abilities.
               Qarun was one of the people of Musa but he lorded it over
               them. We gave him treasures, the keys alone to which were a
               heavy weight for a party of strong men. When his people
               said to him, "Do not gloat. Allah does not love people who
               gloat." "Seek the abode of the Hereafter with what Allah has
               given you, without forgetting your portion of this world.
               And do good as Allah has been good to you. And do not seek
               to cause corruption in the Earth. Allah does not love cor-
               rupters." He said, "I have only been given it because of
               knowledge I have." Did he not know that before him Allah
               had destroyed generations with far greater strength than his
               and far more possessions? The evildoers will not be ques-
               tioned about their sins. (Surat al-Qasas: 76-78)
               As a repayment for his behavior, Qarun was punished whilst

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