28:77 Al-Qasas (The Stories)

{ وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ } أي: قد حصل عندك من وسائل الآخرة ما ليس عند غيرك من الأموال، فابتغ بها ما عند اللّه، وتصدق ولا تقتصر على مجرد نيل الشهوات، وتحصيل اللذات، { وَلَا تَنْسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا } أي: لا نأمرك أن تتصدق بجميع مالك وتبقى ضائعا، بل أنفق لآخرتك، واستمتع بدنياك استمتاعا لا يثلم دينك، ولا يضر بآخرتك، { وَأَحْسَنُ } إلى عباد اللّه { كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ } بهذه الأموال، { وَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ } بالتكبر والعمل بمعاصي اللّه والاشتغال بالنعم عن المنعم، { إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ } بل يعاقبهم على ذلك، أشد العقوبة.

وقوله: "وابتغ فيما آتاك الله الدار الآخرة ولا تنس نصيبك من الدنيا" أي استعمل ما وهبك الله من هذا المال الجزيل والنعمة الطائلة في طاعة ربك والتقرب إليه بأنواع القربات التي يحصل لك بها الثواب في الدنيا والآخرة "ولا تنس نصيبك من الدنيا" أي مما أباح الله فيها من المآكل والمشارب والملابس والمساكن والمناكح فإن لربك عليك حقا ولنفسك عليك حقا ولأهلك عليك حقا ولزورك عليك حقا فآت كل ذي حق حقه "وأحسن كما أحسن الله إليك" أي أحسن إلى خلقه كما أحسن هو إليك "ولا تبغ الفساد في الأرض" أي لا تكن همتك بما أنت فيه أن تفسد به في الأرض وتسيء إلى خلق الله "إن الله لا يحب المفسدين".

Qarun and His People's exhortation

It was recorded that Ibn `Abbas said:

إِنَّ قَـرُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَى

(Verily, Qarun was of Musa's people,) "He was the son of his paternal uncle." This was also the view of Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, `Abdullah bin Al-Harith bin Nawfal, Sammak bin Harb, Qatadah, Malik bin Dinar, Ibn Jurayj and others; they all said that he was the cousin of Musa, peace be upon him. Ibn Jurayj said: "He was Qarun bin Yashar bin Qahith, and Musa was the son of `Imran bin Qahith.

وَءَاتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ

(And We gave him of the treasures,) meaning, of wealth;

مَآ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوأُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُوْلِى الْقُوَّةِ

(that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.) Groups of strong men would not have been able to carry them because they were so many. Al-A`mash narrated from Khaythamah, "The keys of Qarun's treasure were made of leather, each key like a finger, and each key was for a separate storeroom. When he rode anywhere, the keys would be carried on sixty mules with white blazes on their foreheads and white feet." Other views were also given, and Allah knows best.

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لاَ تَفْرَحْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ

(Remember when his people said to him: "Do not exult. Verily, Allah likes not those who exult.") means, the righteous ones among his people exhorted him. By way of sincere advice and guidance, they said: "Do not exult in what you have," meaning, `do not be arrogant and proud of your wealth.'

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ

(Verily, Allah likes not those who exult.) Ibn `Abbas said, "This means, those who rejoice and gloat." Mujahid said, "It means those who are insolent and reckless, and do not thank Allah for what He has given them." His saying:

وَابْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الاٌّخِرَةَ وَلاَ تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا

(But seek, with that which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world;) means, `use this great wealth and immense blessing Allah has given you to worship your Lord and draw closer to Him by doing a variety of good deeds which will earn you reward in this world and the Hereafter.'

وَلاَ تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا

(and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world;) `That which Allah has permitted of food, drink, clothing, dwelling places and women. Your Lord has rights over you, your self has rights over you, your family has rights over you, and your visitors have rights over you. So give each of them their due.'

وَأَحْسِن كَمَآ أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ

(and be generous as Allah has been generous to you, ) `Be generous to His creatures, as He has been generous to you.'

وَلاَ تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(and seek not mischief in the land.) meaning: `do not let your aim be to spread corruption on earth and do harm to Allah's creation.'

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

(Verily, Allah likes not the mischief-makers.)

but seek in that which God has given you of wealth the Abode of the Hereafter by expending it in obedience to God and do not forget your share of this world that is do not forget to strive in it for the sake of the Hereafter; and be good to people by giving voluntary alms just as God has been good to you. And do not seek to cause corruption in the earth by committing acts of disobedience. Surely God does not love the agents of corruption’ meaning that He will punish them.

وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّـهُ الدَّارَ‌ الْآخِرَ‌ةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا (And seek the (betterment of) the ultimate Abode with what Allah has given to you, and do not neglect your share from this world - 28:77). The Muslims advised Qarun that he should try to do as much good as possible for the Hereafter by utilizing the wealth Allah Ta’ ala had given him, and 'should not forget his share in the world'.

What is his 'share in this world'? Many commentators have explained that it refers to his life in this world and the deeds that may help him in the Hereafter which include charity and all other righteous deeds. Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has favoured this explanation. (Qurtubi) By adopting this explanation, the second sentence would be regarded as an emphasized repetition of the first sentence. The first sentence has directed that one should make use of all that has been gifted - the life, wealth, health, strength etc. - to collect that which would be of help in the Hereafter. In fact this portion of the worldly possessions is one's own, which may help him in the Hereafter; the rest of the world's possessions belongs to his heirs.

However, some other commentators have explained that the meaning of the second sentence is that whatever Allah has given you, make use of it for the Hereafter, without loosing sight of your needs in this world. In other words do not become a pauper by giving away everything in charity. Instead, retain something for your own needs as well. Under this explanation, 'your share in the world' means one's own needs in this world.