Page 98 - The Prophet Moses (pbuh)

THE PROPHET MOSES (PBUH)

THE ARROGANCE OF KARUN
and

HIS PUNISHMENT

A long with Pharaoh, Karun is mentioned among those who

were destroyed at the time of the Prophet Moses (pbuh).

The Qur'an informs us that Karun was the owner of great possessions
in Egypt despite being a descendant of the Israelite tribe.
In the following verse Allah indicates that Karun opposed the Prophet
Moses (pbuh) together with Pharaoh:
We sent Moses with Our Signs and clear authority to Pharaoh,
Haman and Karun. But they said, "A lying magician." (Surah Ghafir:
23-24)
It is noteworthy that Karun, who was with Pharaoh, was also in charge
of a great treasure:
Karun was one of the people of Moses 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… (Surat al-Qasas: 76)
The great fortune and status Karun possessed in Egypt, due to his
closeness to Pharaoh, made him arrogant and insolent towards his own
people. He refused to accept the Prophet Moses' (pbuh) message, and
boasted about his possessions to make the Children of Israel feel attach-
ment to the life of this world. In fact, his great fortune and status became
the envy of some of the people from the Prophet Moses' (pbuh) tribe. Allah
relates the arrogance of Karun and the envy those of poor faith among the
Children of Israel felt for him:
He went out among his people in his finery. Those who desired the

96