Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah - Ibn Kathir - (2/107)

Al-Bidayah wa an-NihayahIbn Kathir

No one can keep his sights set on the lofty Abode of the Hereafter when dazzled by the gaudy blossom of this paltry world—save the one whose heart Allah guides, whose spirit He steadies, whose intellect He reinforces, and whose aim He brings to fruition.

How apt is the saying of one of the early righteous: “Allah loves a penetrating eye when doubts appear, and a perfect mind when passions descend.”

Allah the Exalted says:
“So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling; he had no party to help him against Allah, nor was he of those who could defend themselves.” (28:81)

After the Almighty mentioned that Qārūn came forth in his finery, strutting arrogantly and vaunting himself over his people, He said: “So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling,” just as al-Bukhārī has narrated (1) through al-Zuhrī, from Sālim, from his father, that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“While a man was dragging his lower garment in pride, the earth swallowed him, and he continues to sink into it, writhing, until the Day of Resurrection.”

Al-Bukhārī also related (2) through Jarīr ibn Zayd, from Sālim, from Abū Hurayrah, from the Prophet ﷺ, to the same effect.

It has been reported from Ibn ʿAbbās and al-Suddi that Qārūn paid a prostitute a sum of money to accuse Moses ﵇—in a public assembly—of misconduct with her. She made the accusation, whereupon Moses trembled in fear, prayed two rakʿahs, and then adjured her: “Who prompted you to this, and what moved you?” She confessed that Qārūn had instigated it, sought Allah’s forgiveness, and repented. Moses then fell prostrate to his Lord and invoked Him against Qārūn. Allah revealed to him, “I have commanded the earth to obey you concerning him.” Moses ordered the earth to swallow Qārūn and his house, and so it did. Allah knows best (3).

It is also said that when Qārūn appeared before his people in his splendour—surrounded by his retinue (4), his mules, and his sumptuous garments—he passed by the gathering of Moses ﵇ while Moses was reminding the people of Allah’s days. Many faces turned from Moses toward Qārūn to gaze at him. Moses ﵇ summoned him and asked, “What moved you to do this?” Qārūn replied, “Moses, even if you have been favoured above me with prophethood, I have been favoured above you with wealth. If you wish, let us both go out: you pray against me and I will pray against you.” They went out together, Qārūn with his people.

Moses said, “Will you supplicate first, or shall I?” Qārūn replied, “I will.” He prayed, but his supplication concerning Moses was not answered.

Moses then asked, “Shall I now supplicate?” Qārūn agreed. Moses prayed: “O Allah, command the earth to rebel today.” Allah revealed to him, “I have done so.” Moses said, “Earth, seize them,” and it took them up to their feet. He said again, “Seize them,” and it took them up to their knees—then to their shoulders. He then said, “Bring forth their treasures and wealth,” and they were brought forth until the people could see them. Finally, Moses signalled with his hand and said, “Be gone, O sons of Levi,” and the earth closed over them (5).

(1) Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 3485 in Kitab al-Anbiyaʾ (Book of the Prophets), chapter 54. (2) Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5790 in Kitab al-Libas (Book of Clothing), chapter “Who drags his garment out of pride.” (3) Tafsir Ibn Kathir, vol. 3, p. 495. (4) In manuscript B: bakhīlah. (5) In manuscript B: “falta’tani.” This reading is the more plausible one.

إلى الدار الآخرة العلية عند النظر إلى زهرة هذه الدنيا الدنيَّة إلّا مَن هدى اللّهُ قلْبَهُ، وثبَّت فؤاده، وأيّد لُبَّه، وحقق مراده. وما أحسن ما قال بعض السلف: إن اللّه يحب البصر النافذ عند ورود الشبهات والعقل الكامل عند حلول الشهوات. قال اللّه تعالى: ﴿فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُ مِنْ فِئَةٍ يَنْصُرُونَهُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنْتَصِرِينَ﴾ لما ذكر اللّه تعالى خروجه في زينته واختياله فيها وفخره على قومه بها قال: ﴿فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ﴾ كما روى البخاري (١) من حديث الزهري عن سالم، عن أبيه، عن النبي ﷺ قال: "بَيْنَا رَجُلٌ يَجُرُّ إزارَهُ إذْ خُسِفَ بهِ فَهُو يَتَجَلْجَلُ في الأرضِ إلى يَومِ القيامَةِ" ثمّ رواه البخاري (٢) من حديث جرير بن زيد، عن سالم، عن أبي هريرة، عن النبي ﷺ ، نحوه. وقد ذُكر عن ابن عباس والسُّدي أن قارون أعطى امرأة بغيًّا مالًا على أن تقول لموسى (عليه السلام) وهو في ملأٍ من الناس: إنّك فعلت بي كذا وكذا، فيقال: إنّها قالت له ذلك، فأرعد من الفرق، وصلّى ركعتين، ثمّ أقبل عليها فاستحلفها مَنْ دَلّكِ على ذلك وما حملك عليه؟ فذكرت أن قارون هو الذي حملها على ذلك، واستغفرت اللّه، وتابت إليه، فعند ذلك خرّ موسى للّه ساجدًا، ودعا اللّه على قارون، فأوحى اللّه تعالى إليه إني قد أمرت الأرض أن تطيعك فيه، فأمر موسى الأرض أن تبتلعه وداره، فكان ذلك. فاللّه أعلم (٣) . وقد قيل: إن قارون لما خرج على قومه في زينته مرّ بجحفله (٤) ، وبغاله، وملابسه على مجلس موسى (عليه السلام) وهو يذكّر قومه بأيام اللّه، فلما رآه الناس انصرفت وجوه كثير من الناس ينظرون إليه، فدعاه موسى (عليه السلام) فقال له: ما حملك على هذا؟ فقال: يا موسى أما لئن كنتَ فُضِّلت عليَّ بالنبوة فلقد فُضِّلتُ عليك بالمال، ولئن شئت لتخرجن فلتدعُوَن عليّ، ولأدعون عليك، فخرج وخرج قارون في قومه، فقال له موسى: تدعو أو أدعو؟ قال: أدعو أنا، فدعا قارون فلم يُجَب في موسى. فقال موسى: أدعو؟ قال: نعم. فقال موسى: اللهم مُرِ الأرض فلتطغى (٥) اليوم، فأوحى اللّه تعالى إليه: إني قد فعلتُ، فقال موسى: يا أرضُ خذيهم، فأخذتهم إلى أقدامهم، ثمّ قال: خذيهم، فأخذتهم إلى ركبهم، ثمّ إلى مناكبهم، ثمّ قال: أقبلي بكنوزهم وأموالهم، فأقبلت بها حتى نظروا إليها، ثمّ أشار موسى بيده فقال: اذهبوا بني لاوي، فاستوت بهم الأرض.

(١) صحيح البخاري رقم (٣٤٨٥) في الأنبياء، باب (٥٤). (٢) صحيح البخاري رقم (٥٧٩٠) في اللباس، باب من جرّ ثوبه خيلاء. (٣) تفسير ابن كثير (٣/ ٤٩٥). (٤) في ب: بخيله. (٥) في ب: فلتطعني. وهو أشبه.