28. Surah Al-Qasas, (The Story)

Mecca Period 49

[Qarun’s story]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَأَصْبَحَ الَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا مَكَانَهُ بِالْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ...

28: 82. And those who had envied his position the day before began to say on the morrow:

"Ah!

...اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ...

it is indeed Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it, to any of His servants He pleases!

C3412. Provision or Sustenance, both literally and figuratively: wealth and material things in life as well as the things that sustain our higher and spiritual faculties.

The rabble, that admired Qarun's wealth when he was in worldly prosperity, now sees the other side of the question and understands that there are other gifts more precious and desirable, and that these may actually be withheld from men who enjoy wealth and worldly prosperity.

In fact it is false prosperity, or no prosperity in the real sense of the word, which is without spiritual well-being.

...لَوْلَا أَن مَّنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا...

Had it not been that Allah was gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up!

...وَيْكَأَنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾

Ah!

those who reject Allah will assuredly never prosper."

تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا...

28:83. That House of the Hereafter We shall give to those who intend not high-handedness or mischief on earth:

C3413. High-handedness or arrogance, as opposed to submission to the Will of Allah, Islam.

Mischief, as opposed to doing good, bringing forth fruits of righteousness.

It is the righteous who will win in the end.

...وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٨٣﴾

and the End is (best) for the righteous.

مَن جَاء بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهَا...

28;84. If any does good, the reward to him is better than his deed;

...وَمَن جَاء بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَى الَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾

but if any does evil, the doers of evil are only punished (to the extent) of their deeds.

C3414. A good deed has its sure reward, and that reward will be better than the merits of the doer.

An evil deed may be forgiven by repentance, but in any case will not be punished with a severer penalty than justice demands.

Asad’s Version:

28:82 And on the morrow, those who but yesterday had longed to be in his place exclaimed: "Alas [for our not having been aware] that it is indeed God [alone] who grants abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure, unto whichever He wills of His creatures! Had not God been

gracious to us, He might have caused [the earth] to swallow us, too! Alas [for our having forgotten) that those who deny the truth can never attain to a happy state ! "

28:83 As for that [happy] life in the hereafter, We grant it [only] to those who do not seek to exalt themselves on earth, nor yet to spread corruption: for the future belongs to the God-

conscious.' 2

(28:84) Whosoever shall come [before God] with a good deed will gain [further]

good therefrom;" but as for any who shall come with an evil deed - [know that] they who do

evil deeds will not be requited with more than [the like of] what they have done.' 4