Qarun
| Full Name | Qārūn b. Yaṣhura |
|---|---|
| Well-known Relatives | Prophet Moses (a) |
| Place of Residence | Egypt |
| Era | Prophet Moses (a) |
| Known for | Possessing too much Wealth |
Qārūn b. Yaṣhura (Arabic: قارون بن یصْهُرَ) or Korah was among rich people of Banu Israel. For his wrong-doing, the Qur'an mentioned him beside Pharaoh and Haman. He was first among the major rebels against prophet Moses (a), but finally believed in him and left Egypt together with Banu Israel. After a while, Qarun began disobedience, leading to his punishment and death. In the Torah, the story of Qarun and his challenge with Prophet Moses (a) is mentioned.
Identity
Qarun b. Yaṣhura was among famous people at the time of Prophet Moses (a), and his name is mentioned four times in the Qur'an.[1]
Although Qarun was among Israelites[2] and according to some sources, he was the son of Prophet Moses's (a) uncle[3] and according to some other sources his aunt's son,[4] but turned to a rebel against him. For his wrong-doings, the Qur'an mentions him beside Pharaoh and Haman, "Certainly We sent Moses with Our signs and a manifest authority to Pharaoh, Haman and Korah, but they said, 'A magician and a mendacious liar.'"[5]
Some sources mentioned Qarun as an agent of Pharaoh among Israelites who did terrible oppressions against them.[6] Some exegetes[7] considered Qarun an example of the verse, "O you who have faith! Do not be like those who offended Moses, whereat Allah cleared him of what they alleged, and he was distinguished in Allah's sight." [8]
Wealth of Qarun
The Qur'an describes the wealth of Qarun, "We had given him so many treasures that their chests indeed proved heavy for a band of stalwarts." [9].[10] The verse, "So he emerged before his people in his finery." [11] shows that he did not hesitate to show off his wealth and boast about it. Such expressions, which are rarely used in the Quran, as well as a great deal of narrations and historical reports about the wealth of Qarun, have made him a symbol of wealth.
Faith in Prophet Moses (a)
Before the exodus of Israelites toward the Promised Land, Qarun believed in Moses (a) and gradually gained a social position among Israelites. They even considered him knowledgeable about Torah.[12] Qarun had a good voice and beautifully recited the Torah to the Israelites.[13] He left Egypt together with the Israelites and moved toward the Promised Land; however, due to their disobedience in war, God made them wander in the desert for many years.[14]
Disobedience and Divine Punishment
With the passage of time, Qarun began disobedience and incurred the wrath of God and His Prophet (a). Of all the verses of the Qur'an about him, it can be learned that his disobedience was mostly because of his vanity and conceit.[15]
The Qur'an has described the divine punishment which caused the destruction of Qarun as follows, "So We caused the earth to swallow him and his house." [16]
In narrations, some issues are mentioned as examples of Qarun's disobedience:
Not Paying Zakat and also Slandering Moses (a)
When paying zakat was determined as an obligation for Israelites, Qarun went to Moses (a) and agreed to pay zakat. He then went to his house and found that it would be a great amount after he calculated it; thus, he gathered some of the Israelites (who were his advocates) and said, "O Banu Israel, Moses (a) ordered you to some actions and you obeyed and now he (a) wants to take your properties. Take that certain prostitute and give her a salary to accuse Moses (a)."
Moses (a) said, "Whoever commits adultery while he has a wife, we will stone him to death."
Qarun told Moses (a), "[Is that the ruling], even if you commit it?!"
Moses (a) said, "Even if I commit it."
Qarun said, "Banu Israel believes that you have committed adultery with that certain prostitute."
Moses (a) said, "Bring her here. If she says so, I will accept it." Then, they brought her.
Moses (a) asked her, "Do you accept what they say?"
She said, "No, they are lying. They gave me a salary to accuse you. So, Moses (a) cursed them, and the earth swallowed them in.[17]
Separating from repenters and annoying Moses (a)
During the wandering period in the deserts, Israelites were repenting so that God would forgive them. But after a while, Qarun left repenters. Prophet Moses (a), who loved Qarun, went to him and said, "O Qarun! Your people are repenting, but you left them. Join them; otherwise divine punishment will be inflicted upon you." Qarun mocked and ordered him to pour ashes on Moses (a). The earth swallowed Qarun and his properties and castle.[18]
Although the Qur'an is silent about the place of the event, whether it happened to Qarun in Egypt or Sinai desert, from hadiths, commentaries and the Torah, it can be learned that the punishment of God was afflicted upon Qarun in Sinai desert.[19]
Qarun in the Torah
Torah mentioned Qarun as Korah. According to the Torah, Korah and his followers believed that God was among Israelites, and thus, there was no need for leadership and prophethood of Moses (a) and Harun (a) (Aaron):
"Two hundred fifty Israelite men, leaders of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men, and they confronted Moses. They assembled against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. So why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"[20]
Korah and his relatives had good positions, and God assigned some acts of worship to them: "Is it too little for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel to allow you to approach him to perform the duties of the LORD's tabernacle and to stand before the congregation and serve them? He has allowed you to approach him, and all your brother Levites with you; yet you seek the priesthood as well!"[21]
Finally, God punished Korah and his followers because of their disobedience and the significant troubles they caused:
"As soon as he finished speaking all these words, the ground under them was split apart. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households — everyone who belonged to Korah and all their goods. So they, with all that belonged to them, went down alive into Sheol; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly." [22]
Notes
- ↑ Qurʾān, 28:76, 79; 29:39; 40:24.
- ↑ Qurʾān, 28:76.
- ↑ Ibn Abī Ḥātam, Tafsīr al-Qurʾān, vol. 9, p. 300.
- ↑ Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 7, p. 41.
- ↑ Qur'an, 40:23-24.
- ↑ Baghawī, Maʿālim al-tanzīl, vol. 3, p. 543.
- ↑ Zamkhsharī, al-Kashshāf, vol. 3, p. 563.
- ↑ Qur'an, 33:69
- ↑ Qur'an, 28:76.
- ↑ There are different opinions about the meaning of this verse, as some exegetes interpreted "mafātīh" as the "boxes." Thus, the meaning of the verse is that Qarun had so many gold, silver, and precious properties that a band of stalwarts carried with it difficulty. Some other commentaries considered it to refer to the keys of boxes.
- ↑ Qur'an, 28:79.
- ↑ Ṭūsī, al-Tibyān, vol. 8, p. 175.
- ↑ Ibn Kathīr, al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya, vol. 1, p. 309.
- ↑ Qurʾān, 5: 24-26.
- ↑ Ṭabrisī, Jawāmiʿ al-jāmiʿ, vol. 3, p. 232.
- ↑ Qur'an, 28:81
- ↑ Ibn Athīr, al-Kāmil fī al-tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 205; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 1, p. 447
- ↑ Qummī, Tafsīr al-Qummī, vol. 2, p. 145.
- ↑ Some researchers considered it possible that these events happened in Egypt and Qarun was afflicted by the punishment of God in Egypt, "Israelites lived in Sinai desert as nomads and there were not a lot of means available for gaining wealth there. Also, Israelites had erected tents, which were the base for their councils for consulting and judgment, etc.; however, the phrase "so we caused the earth to swallow him and his house" (Qur'an, 28:81) shows that Qarun had a magnificent house; thus, there is a possibility that his story happened in Egypt.
- ↑ Numbers, 16:2-3.
- ↑ Numbers, 16:9-10.
- ↑ Numbers, 16:31-33.
References
- The Qurʾān.
- THE BIBLE.New Revised Standard Version.
- Baghawī, Ḥusayn b. Masʿūd al-. Maʿālim al-tanzīl fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān. Edited by ʿAbd al-Razzāq al-Mahdī. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1420 AH.
- Ibn Abī Ḥātam, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Muḥammad. Tafsīr al-Qurʾān. 3rd edition. Edited by Asʿad Muḥammad al-Ṭayyib. Mecca: Maktabat Nizār Muṣtafā al-Bāz, 1419 AH.
- Ibn Athīr al-Jazarī, ʿAlī b. Muḥammad. Al-Kāmil fī al-tārīkh. Beirut: Dār al-Ṣādir, 1385 AH.
- Ibn Kathīr al-Dimashqī, Ismāʿīl b. ʿUmar. Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1407 AH.
- Qummī, ʿAlī b. Ibrāhīm al-. Tafsīr al-Qummī. Third edition. Edited by Mūsawī al-Jazāʾirī. Qom: Dār al-Kutub, 1404 AH.
- Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk. Second edition. Edited by Muḥammad Abū l-Faḍl Ibrāhīm. Beirut: Dār al-Turāth, 1387 AH.
- Ṭabrisī, Faḍl b. al-Ḥasan al-. Jawāmiʿ al-jāmiʿ. Tehran: Intishārāt-i Dānishgāh-i Tihrān, 1377 Sh.
- Ṭabrisī, Faḍl b. al-Ḥasan al-. Majmaʿ al-bayān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān. 3rd edition. Tehran: Nāṣir Khusru, 1372 AH.
- Ṭūsī, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-. Al-Tibyān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān. Edited by Aḥmad Qaṣīr al-ʿĀmilī. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, [n.d].
- Zamkhsharī, Maḥmūd al-. Al-Kashshāf ʿan ḥaqāʾiq ghawāmiḍ al-tanzīl. 3rd edition. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿArabī, 1407.