Episode 4
Episode 4: Swallowed by the Earth and an Everlasting Lesson
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The climax of Qarun's story came as an awesome decree of Allah. Because of his arrogance and injustice, Allah caused the earth to swallow him along with all his wealth. Allah said, "And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves" (Qur'an 28:81). In an instant, the wealth once boasted of could not save him in the least. Those who yesterday had wished for his position came to their senses. Allah said, "And those who had wished for his position the previous day began to say, 'Oh, how Allah extends provision to whom He wills of His servants and restricts it! If not that Allah had conferred favor on us, He would have caused it to swallow us. Oh, how the disbelievers do not succeed!'" (Qur'an 28:82). The Qur'an closes this story with a mighty lesson: "That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous" (Qur'an 28:83). Reflection: wealth will not aid its owner before Allah if it is joined with arrogance and injustice. A good ending belongs only to the humble and the God-fearing. The story of Qarun is an everlasting warning that the world one boasts of can vanish in a moment, while only deeds and piety endure. Source & Note: evidence from the Qur'an, 28:81-83. The event of being "swallowed by the earth" (khasf) is the Qur'an's own text. Additional details circulating in some retellings come from reports and are not needed to grasp the lesson of the ayat.