The Story of Qaroon (Qarun) قارون and some lessons to learn

The Holy Quran is full of stories for us to ponder upon. We must know that the stories that Allah Has put in His Quran are not just mere stories to read, but rather stories are for us to think deeply about, ponder upon, and take the relevant lessons.
One of the stories related in the Quran is about Qaroon (Qarun, قارون, Coré in French). He was a man of great wealth, but his wealth did not help him much and he went into misguidance. He lived at the time of Prophet Mussa (AS) and was among the people of Mussa. Certainly, one of the lessons we can retain is that the people we see full of wealth today are not necessarily the ones agreed by Allah. It also shows us that Allah can give a lot to a person who is Kaafir, but this is not because He Loves him, but rather because He Hates him.

Along with Pharaoh, Qarun is mentioned among those who were destroyed at the time of Musa.

The Qur'an informs us that Qarun was the owner of great possessions Egypt despite being a descendant of the Israelite tribe. The following verse indicates that Qarun opposed Musa together with Pharaoh:

We sent Musa with Our Signs and clear authority to Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun. But they said, "A lying magician." (Qur'an, 40: 23-24)

It is noteworthy that Qarun, who was with Pharaoh, was also having a great treasure:

Qarun was one of the people of Musa but he lorded it over them. We gave him treasures, the keys alone to which were a heavy weight for a party of strong men… (Qur'an, 28: 76)

The great fortune and status Qarun possessed in Egypt, due to his closeness to Pharaoh, made him arrogant and insolent towards his own people. He refused to accept Musa's message, and boasted about his possessions to make the children of Israel feel attachment to the life of this world. In fact, his great fortune and status became the envy of some of the people from Musa's tribe. Allah relates the arrogance of Qarun and the envy those of poor faith among the children of Israel felt for him:

He went out among his people in his finery. Those who desired the life of the world said, "Oh! If only we had the same as Qarun has been given! What immense good fortune he possesses." (Qur'an, 28: 79)

The true believers among the children of Israel never felt inclined towards Qarun. On the contrary, they comprehended the pitiful situation he was in, and warned him:

…When his people said to him, "Do not gloat. Allah does not love people who gloat. Seek the abode of the hereafter with what Allah has given you, without forgetting your portion of the world. And do good as Allah has been good to you. And do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. Allah does not love corrupters." (Qur'an, 28: 76-77)

These same people of faith gave advise to the members of their own tribe who were inclined to Qarun, and warned them to retain the nobility of a believer in their conduct, and never to prefer the temporary pleasures of this world over the mercy of Allah:

...Those who desired the life of the world said, "Oh! If only we had the same as Qarun has been given! What immense good fortune he possesses." But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! Allah's reward is better for those who believe and act rightly. But only the steadfast will obtain it." (Qur'an, 28: 79-80)

The main reason why Qarun went astray was his belief that he was possessed with "knowledge." In other words, he had the boastful attitude that he was superior to other people.

He said, "I have only been given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that before him Allah had destroyed generations with far greater strength than his and far more possessions? The evildoers will not be questioned about their sins. (Qur'an, 28: 78)

Nevertheless, in the end, Qarun's arrogance brought him nothing but harm. He brought great torment upon himself by being ungrateful to Allah, and arrogantly believing that all his possessions were earned of his own accord. Qarun finally came to realize that he was a feeble and helpless servant of Allah, when his possessions, which had made him so boastful, were completely destroyed by Allah:

We caused the earth to swallow up both him and his house. There was no group to come to his aid against Allah, and he was not someone who is helped. (Qur'an, 28: 81)

What befell Qarun was a warning, and an event from which those around him, as well as succeeding generations, were to draw lessons from.

Those who sympathized with him immediately realized that what they had desired so dearly was actually temporary and ultimately worthless. They recognized that those who boast of their possessions and wealth can never attain salvation, and that they will eventually have to give account for their deeds:

Those who had longed to take his place the day before woke up saying, "Allah expands the provision of any of His servants He wills or restricts it. If Allah had not shown great kindness to us, we would have been swallowed up as well. Ah! Truly the unbelievers are not successful." (Qur'an, 28: 82)

Ultimately, the prepared end for Pharaoh and Haman, was the same met by Qarun:

And Qarun and Pharaoh and Haman—Musa came with the Clear Signs to them, but they were arrogant on the earth. They could not outstrip Us. (Qur'an, 29: 39)

The story of Qarun clearly illustrates for us that Allah does not bestow his mercy on those who are arrogant because of their wealth and possessions, and who consider themselves to be wiser or more knowledgeable than others. In the Qur'an, Allah also gives us examples from other peoples of the past. Many civilizations of the past had attained great success and material wealth. Yet, all these civilizations were obliterated from the face of the earth. Allah took back the souls of these people, who had thought themselves to be the rulers of the earth, and reduced their glorious palaces to ruins:

How many wrongdoing cities We destroyed, and now all their roofs and walls are fallen in; how many abandoned wells and stuccoed palaces! (Qur'an, 22: 45)

There is another lesson the story of Qarun teaches us: not to be taken by the allure of the temporary riches of this world and of those who possess them. The ones a believer should be inclined to are those who withstand hardships in the way of Allah, those who spend their possessions, and live for the cause of Allah, and those men of faith and wisdom, whose hearts are full of love for Allah. As the Prophet Muhammad (S) said "Allah does not look at your forms and possessions, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds." (Muslim)

Those who appear to lead a luxuriant and prosperous life, actually live in spiritual deprivation. Each day drift these people into eternal torment in hell. Allah indicates this situation as follows:

Do not let their wealth and children impress you. Allah merely wants to punish them by them during their life in the world and for them to expire while they are unbelievers. (Qur'an, 9: 55)

Possessions should not be desired for pleasure and ostentation only. We need to keep in mind that Allah puts humans to test by their possessions as well. These possessions bring enjoyment to people as long as they are used to earn the good pleasure of Allah. Qarun, for instance, ended up in misery, despite his measureless wealth. The case of Qarun is indeed a warning for all generations, both past and present.

Ref: Harunyahia.com. Book of Prophet Musa.

How long is the "Day Of Judgment"?

How long is the "day" of Judgement day?

This was anwswered by Allah in His Holy Quran, in Surat Al Maaraj:

"سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ-1-"

“A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall

"لِّلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ-2-"

Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,

"مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِي ٱلْمَعَارِجِ-3-"

From Allaah, the Lord of the ways of ascent.

"تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ-4-"

The angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years”

[Al-Ma’aarij 70:1-4]

i.e., this torment will befall the disbelievers on a day the length of which is equal to fifty thousand years.  the Last Day is one Day, and it will be hard for the kaafirs but easy for the believers

So, this day will be equivalent to 50,000 years of our measure.

Have you ever wondered what would your whole life be equivalent compared to the Judgment day?

Let  us do some simple maths:

If we assume that 50,000 years (earth time) = 24 hours (akheera time)

Then if you lived 100 years (eath time), that would be equal to 0.048hrs = 2.88mn !!!

So, Subhane Allah, if a person was to live 100 years on earth, these 100 years on earth would just look like 2.88mn on the judgement day. This is just about as how much it took you to read this page.

This is why we better understand the meaning of the ayah:

"وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُواْ غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ كَذَلِكَ كَانُواْ يُؤْفَكُونَ"

"And the Day when the Last Hour is established, the evildoers will swear they did not stay (in the world) for more than an hour. They used to turn back (from truth) in the same manner (in the world as well)." [Al-Room 30:55]

May Allah Guide us to make the most use of our time during this very short life, and Grant us his Mercy on the Judgment day.

Who is Hatem Al Assam (حاتم الاصم)

He was a very wise person, known for his great trust onto Allah. He was one of the disciple of Shaqiq Al Balkhi. 

In all his circumstances, from beginning to end, he never once acted untruthfully, so that Junayd said: “Hatem al-Asamm is the veracious one (siddiq) of our time.” He has lofty sayings on the subtleties of discerning the cankers of the soul and the weaknesses of human nature, and is the author of famous works on ethics (`ilm-i mu`amalat). 

Hatem Al Assam is known for many wisdom words, among the most famous ones, is the speech he had with his shaikh Shaqiq.

One day Shaqiq Al Balkhi asked his student Hatem: Since how long have you kept my company?

Hatem replied: since thirty years.

Shaqiq asked him then: What have you then learnt from me in this period of time?

Hatem replied: I have gained from you eight benefits

Shaqiq said: We are to Allah and to Allah we shall return, my age was spent with you and you only learnt eight issues ?!

Hatem said: O Professor, I did not learn other than these and I do not like to lie

Shaqiq said: then give me these eight issues so that I could hear them.

Hatem al-Asam said: 

The first benefit is that I observed the creation and saw that everyone had loved one and one passionately desired whom he loved and longed for. Some of the beloved accompany the lover up to the brink of sickness and death and others to the gate of the graveyard. All of them return and leave him there alone. No one goes into the tomb with him. I looked into the matter and said to myself: 'The best beloved is that which would enter the tomb with the lover to console him'; I found it to be nothing else than good works, so I took this as my beloved, to illuminate my grave for me and to comfort me in it and not leave me alone.

At this point Shaqiq said: "May Allah bless you and grant you success. What is the second one?"

The second benefit is that I saw that the people were following their lusts and hastening towards the desires of the souls; and I meditated on the saying of Allah the Exalted: " But as for whoever has feared the Majesty of his Lord and has refrained his soul from lust, truly the Garden shall be his dwelling place" (Quran, 79:40-41). Convinced that the Quran was true and right, I began to deny my soul [its pleasures] and hurried to combat it and refuse it its passionate desires, until I enjoyed real satisfaction in obedience to Allah the Exalted.

The third benefit is that I saw that every human being is striving to accumulate as much as he can from the wreckage of this world and then holding on strongly to it. I meditated on the Quranic verse: "What is with you vanishes; what is with Allah is lasting" (Quran, 19:96). So I gave freely my wordy possessions for His sake by distributing them among the poor so that it would be my provision in the future with Him the Exalted.

The fourth benefit is that some people whom I observed think that their dignity and honor lie in the multitude of their family and large clans. They were fascinated by these things. Others claimed honor and dignity in abundance of wealth and children, and they were proud of it. Some believed honor and power abide in appropriating the wealth of others, doing injustice to them and shedding their blood. Others considered dignity to consist of extravagance and spending wealth in a foolish manner. I meditated upon the saying of the Exalted: "The most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you "(Quran, 49:13). I chose righteousness for myself, convinced that the Quran is right and true and those claims and opinions of the people are all false and temporal.

The fifth benefit is that I found people slandering each other and speaking ill of one another out of envy of fortune, power and knowledge. I meditated upon the saying of Allah: It is We who divide their livelihood among them in the life of this world (Quran, 43:32). I realized that the process of dividing livelihood is entirely in the hands of Allah since the beginning of time. Therefore I never envied anyone and was satisfied with the distribution of Allah the Exalted.

The sixth benefit is that I saw people becoming enemies of each other for difference reasons. I meditated upon the saying of Allah: "Verily, Satan is an enemy to you; so treat him as an enemy"(Quran, 35:6). I became aware that enmity with anyone except Satan was not permissible.

The seventh benefit is that I saw everyone working very hard, exhausting themselves to obtain food and sustenance, tempted by doubts and forbidden things. They degraded themselves in humiliation. I pondered over the saying of Allah the Exalted: "There is no moving creature on earth but that its sustenance is dependent on Allah"(Quran, 11:6). I knew that my livelihood is guaranteed by Allah the Exalted, so I engaged myself in worship and cut off my covetousness of all else, other than Him.

The eighth benefit is that I saw that everyone relied on some created thing, some on the dinar and dirham, some on wealth and property, some on trade and craft and some on creatures like themselves. I meditated on the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And whosoever places his reliance on Allah, sufficient is [Allah] for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose. Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion"(Quran, 65:3). I therefore placed full trust in Allah the Exalted. He is sufficient for me and He is the best Disposer of affairs."

Shaqiq said: O Hatem, May Allah Help you, I looked at the science and found all kinds of goodness and religion, are turning around these eight issues.

Other Wisdom words from Hatem Al Assam:

Hafiz Abu Naim reports that a man asked Hatem Al Assam: On which things have you built your trust (tawakkul) onto Allah?

Hatem replied: on four qualities: I learned that my sustenance will not be taken by another other person, so I am at peace with that, and I learned that my work will not be done by any other one, so I keep busy at it, and I learned that death comes suddenly so I am hastening to prepare for it, and I learned that I do not escape from Allah's sight, so I keep shy of Him.