Tafsir of Al-Qasas 28:80

"Woe to you" (Waylaka): Its origin is a supplication for destruction. It was then used for rebuke, deterrence, and urging one to abandon what is not approved of, just as "La aba laka" (May you have no father) is used. Its origin is a supplication against a man regarding his lineage to urge him toward an action.

The referent in "And none shall attain it" (wa-la yulaqqaha): It refers to the word spoken by the scholars, or to the reward (thawab), because it carries the meaning of recompense or Paradise, or to the conduct and way, which is faith and righteous deeds.

"The patient" (al-sabirun): Those who are patient in performing acts of obedience, patient in abstaining from desires, and patient with what God has apportioned—the little instead of the much.

The Story of Qarun: Qarun used to annoy the Prophet of God, Moses (peace be upon him), constantly. Moses would treat him gently due to their kinship, until the law of Zakat was revealed. Moses reached a settlement with him: one dinar for every thousand dinars, and one dirham for every thousand dirhams. Qarun calculated this, found it too much, and his soul became stingy. He gathered the Children of Israel and said, "Moses wants everything from you; he wants to take your wealth." They replied, "You are our elder and our leader, so command what you wish."

He said, "We shall bribe such-and-such a prostitute to accuse him of adultery so that the Children of Israel will reject him." He offered her a thousand dinars—some say a basin of gold, others say a basin filled with gold, or whatever she demanded.

On the day of the festival, Moses stood up and said, "O Children of Israel, whoever steals, we shall cut off his hand; whoever slanders, we shall flog him; whoever commits adultery while unmarried, we shall flog him; and if married, we shall stone him." Qarun asked, "Even if it were you?" Moses replied, "Even if it were me." Qarun said, "The Children of Israel claim that you committed adultery with such-and-such woman."

She was brought forward. Moses adjured her by the One who parted the sea and revealed the Torah to tell the truth. God guided her, and she said, "They lied. Rather, Qarun gave me a payment to accuse you." Moses fell prostrate, weeping, and said, "O Lord, if I am Your messenger, then show Your anger for my sake."

God revealed to him: "Command the earth as you wish, for it is obedient to you." Moses said, "O Children of Israel, God has sent me to Qarun just as He sent me to Pharaoh. Whoever is with him, stay where you are; whoever is with me, move away." They all moved away except for two men. Then he said, "O earth, take them!" It swallowed them up to their knees. He said, "Take them!" It swallowed them to their waists. He said, "Take them!" It swallowed them to their necks.

Qarun and his companions pleaded with Moses, adjuring him by God and their kinship, but Moses did not turn to them due to the intensity of his anger. Then he said, "Take them!" and the earth closed over them.

God revealed to Moses: "How harsh you are! They sought your help repeatedly, yet you did not have mercy on them. By My might, had they called upon Me even once, they would have found Me near and responsive."

The Children of Israel began whispering among themselves: "Moses only prayed against Qarun so that he could take his house and treasures for himself." So, Moses prayed to God, and his house and wealth were swallowed up.

"From those who could help him" (min al-muntasirin): Meaning those who could take vengeance from Moses (peace be upon him), or those who could prevent God’s punishment. It is said: "He helped him against his enemy, so he was helped (intasara)," meaning he protected him from him, so he was protected.

"And those who had coveted his position the day before began to say, 'Ah! It is God who extends the provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts it. Had not God been gracious to us, He would have caused it to swallow us. Ah! The disbelievers do not succeed.'"