Tafsir of Al-Qasas 28:79

{In his adornment} Al-Hasan said: In red and yellow [garments]. It is said: He went out on a grey mule draped in purple, with a saddle of gold, accompanied by four thousand men dressed in his style. It is also said: They and their horses were adorned in red silk brocade, with three hundred young men on his right and three hundred young women on his left, fair-skinned, wearing jewelry and silk brocade. Another account says: He went out with ninety thousand men wearing saffron-dyed garments; this was the first day saffron-dyed clothing was ever seen.

{Those who desired his position said...} The ones who wished for his position were Muslims, and they only desired it out of a human inclination toward wealth and self-sufficiency. Qatada said: They wished for it so they might draw closer to God through it and spend it in the paths of righteousness. It is also said: They were disbelievers.

Definitions:

• Al-Ghabit (The one who envies in a positive sense): One who wishes for a blessing similar to his companion’s without desiring its removal from him.
• Al-Hasid (The envious): One who wishes for his companion’s blessing to be transferred to himself, to the exclusion of the other.
• Example of Ghibta: The Almighty’s saying: "Oh, if only we had the like of what has been given to Qarun."
• Example of Hasad: The Almighty’s saying: "And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others." (An-Nisa: 32).

It was said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Does Ghibta cause harm?" He replied: "No, except as the Khabt (beating leaves from trees) harms the Adah (thorny trees)."

{And a great fortune} Al-Hazz is Al-Jadd (luck/fortune), which is Al-Bukht (fate) and Ad-Dawlah (prosperity). They described him as a man of great luck and fortune. It is said: "So-and-so is Dhu Hazz (possessor of luck), Haziz, and Mahzuz." And: "The world is nothing but fortunes and fates."

{But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient." * So 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.}