His sincere advisers from among his own people admonished him, saying,
“Do not exult”—that is, do not become intoxicated by what you have been granted and boast over others—“for Allah does not love those who exult. (28:76) Rather, seek, by means of what Allah has given you, the Abode of the Hereafter.”
In other words: let your determination be directed toward securing Allah’s reward in the Hereafter, for it is better and more enduring.
“Yet do not forget your share of this world,” meaning: make use of your wealth for whatever Allah has made lawful, and enjoy for yourself the wholesome, permissible delights.
“And do good as Allah has done good to you,” that is, show kindness to Allah’s creatures just as their Creator and Maker has shown kindness to you.
“And do not seek to spread corruption in the land,” meaning: do not wrong them and do not sow corruption among them. Should you behave toward them in the very opposite of what you have been commanded, He will punish you and strip you of what He has bestowed upon you, “for Allah does not love the corrupters.”
His only reply to this sound and eloquent counsel was, “I have only been given it because of knowledge I possess,” meaning: I have no need to follow what you have mentioned or pointed out. Allah granted me this wealth because He knew I deserve it and am worthy of it; had I not been beloved and favored by Him, He would not have given me what He has given.
Allah, Exalted is He, refuted him, saying,
“Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations who were mightier than he in strength and amassed more wealth? The criminals will not be questioned about their sins.” (28:78)
That is: We destroyed peoples of the past, because of their sins and offenses, who were stronger than Qārūn and possessed more wealth and children. If what he claimed were true, We would never have punished anyone wealthier than he, and his riches would have been proof of Our love and concern for him—whereas Allah, Exalted is He, has said:
“Your wealth and your children are not things that bring you near to Us, except those who believe and do righteous deeds.” (Sabaʾ 34:37)
And He says:
“Do they think that, in giving them wealth and sons, We are hastening good things for them? Rather, they are unaware.” (al-Muʾminūn 23:55–56)
This divine rebuttal demonstrates the correctness of our explanation of his words, “I have only been given it because of knowledge I possess.” As for those who claim that he knew the craft of alchemy, or that he memorized the Greatest Name and used it to accumulate wealth, such notions are unsound. Alchemy is mere illusion and coating; it cannot alter realities, nor can it rival the work of the Creator. As for the Greatest Name, the supplication of one who disbelieves in it does not ascend; Qārūn was inwardly a disbeliever and outwardly a hypocrite. Moreover, on that assumption his reply to them would make no sense, and the two statements would have no logical connection. We have clarified this fully in our book Tafsīr—praise belongs to Allah.
Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“So he went forth before his people in all his finery.” (28:79)
Many exegetes report that he appeared in tremendous splendor—sumptuous garments, impressive mounts, attendants, and retainers. When those who esteem the glamour of worldly life saw him, they wished they could be like him and envied what he possessed and displayed.
But when the scholars endowed with sound understanding—those ascetic men of insight—heard their remarks, they said to them,
“Woe to you! Allah’s reward is better for anyone who believes and acts righteously,” meaning that the reward of Allah in the Hereafter is better, more lasting, loftier, and more exalted.
Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“Yet none attains it except the patient,” that is, only those who are patient receive this counsel, this statement, and this lofty aspiration.