Allah tells us how Qarun went forth one day before his people with his
magnificent regalia; wearing his fine clothes, accompanied by his fine horses,
his servants and retinue. When those whose desires and inclinations were for the
world saw his adornments and splendor, they wished that they could have the same
as he had been given, and said:
[يلَيْتَ لَنَا
مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ قَـرُونُ إِنَّهُ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ]
(Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun has been given! Verily, he is
the owner of a great fortune.) meaning, `he is very lucky and has a great share
in this world.' When the people of beneficial knowledge heard this, they said to
them:
[وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ
اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً]
(Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for those who believe and do
righteous deeds,) `Allah's reward to His believing, righteous servants in the
Hereafter is better than what you see,' as is reported in the authentic Hadith:
«يَقُولُ اللهُ
تَعَالَى: أَعْدَدْتُ لِعِبَادِي الصَّالِحِينَ مَا لَا عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ وَلَا أُذُنٌ
سَمِعَتْ وَلَا خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ:
[فَلاَ تَعْلَمُ
نَفْسٌ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءً بِمَا كَانُواْ
يَعْمَلُونَ ]
(Allah has prepared for His righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear
has heard, and the heart of a human cannot comprehend. Recite, if you wish: (No
person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used
to do.)) (32:17).
[وَلاَ يُلَقَّاهَآ
إِلاَّ الصَّـبِرُونَ]
(and this none shall attain except the patient.) As-Suddi said: "None shall
reach Paradise except for the patient'' -- as if this were the completion of the
statement made by the people of knowledge. Ibn Jarir said, "This applies only to
those who patiently forsake the love of this world, seeking the Hereafter. It is
as if this is part of what the people of knowledge said, but it is made part of
the Words of Allah, stating this fact.''
[فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ
وَبِدَارِهِ الاٌّرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ
وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنتَصِرِينَ - وَأَصْبَحَ الَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْاْ مَكَانَهُ
بِالاٌّمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ
عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَوْلا أَن مَّنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا
وَيْكَأَنَّهُ لاَ يُفْلِحُ الْكَـفِرُونَ ]
(81. So, We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he
had no group to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save
themselves.) (82. And those who desired his position the day before, began to
say: "Know you not that it is Allah Who expands the provision or restricts it to
whomsoever He pleases of His servants. Had it not been that Allah was Gracious
to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up! Know you not that the
disbelievers will never be successful.'')