Page 102 - The Prophet Moses (pbuh)

THE PROPHET MOSES (PBUH)

We caused the arth to swallow up both him and his house. There
was no group to come to his aid against Allah, and he was not some-
one who is helped. (Surat al-Qasas: 81)
What befell Karun was a warning, and an event from which those around
him, as well as succeeding generations, were to draw lessons from. Those who
sympathized with him immediately realized that what they had desired so
dearly was actually temporary and ultimately worthless. They recognized that
those who boast of their possessions and wealth can never attain salvation,
and that they will eventually have to give account for their deeds:
Those who had longed to take his place the day before woke up say-
ing, "Allah expands the provision of any of His servants He wills or
restricts it. If Allah had not shown great kindness to us, we would
have been swallowed up as well. Ah! Truly the unbelievers are not
successful." (Surat al-Qasas: 82)
Ultimately, the prepared end for Pharaoh and Haman, was the same
met by Karun:
And Karun and Pharaoh and Haman—Moses came with the Clear
Signs to them, but they were arrogant on the earth. They could not
outstrip Us. (Surat al-Qasas: 39)
The story of Karun clearly illustrates for us that Allah does not bestow
his mercy on those who are arrogant because of their wealth and possessions,
and who consider themselves to be wiser or more knowledgeable than oth-
ers. In the Qur'an, Allah also gives us examples from other peoples of the
past. Many civilizations of the past had attained great success and material
wealth. Yet, all these civilizations were obliterated from the face of the earth.
Allah took back the souls of these people, who had thought themselves to be
the rulers of the earth, and reduced their glorious palaces to ruins:
How many wrongdoing cities We destroyed, and now all their roofs
and walls are fallen in; how many abandoned wells and stuccoed
palaces! (Surat al-Hajj: 45)
There is another lesson the story of Karun teaches us: not to be taken
by the allure of the temporary riches of this world and of those who pos-
sess them. The ones a believer should be inclined to are hose who with-

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