394 Page Notes

28 Surah Al-Qasas (continued)

Page 394 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 394 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 394 of the Qur'an covers verses 71 through 77 of Surah Al-Qasas. This page transitions from a profound theological reflection on the natural order of the universe (the cycle of night and day) into the famous historical narrative of Qarun (Korah), a man of immense wealth from the people of Moses who fell into ruin due to his arrogance and materialism.

Prophetic traditions (Hadith), foundational theology (Sunnah), and classical commentaries (Tafsir) provide critical context and expansions for these verses.

1. The Cosmic Signs: Night, Day, and Divine Mercy

In verses 71 through 73, Allah poses rhetorical questions to humanity, asking what would happen if He made the night or the day perpetual until the Day of Resurrection:

"Say, 'Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you light?..." (Qur'an 28:71) "And out of His mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and seek of His bounty..." (Qur'an 28:73)

Sunnah Connection: Prayers Layered Around the Cosmological Shift

The Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ entire daily routine and spiritual practice (Sunnah) was structured around the very transitions of light and darkness mentioned here. He taught that these shifts are profound reminders of human dependency on Allah.

• Supplication at Daybreak and Nightfall: The Prophet ﷺ taught specific daily remembrances (Adhkar) to be recited at these precise cosmic turning points to show gratitude for the renewal of life. He would say at morning: "O Allah, whatever blessing has come to me or to any of Your creation this morning is from You alone, without partner..." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 5073).

• The Prayer of Eclipse: Whenever the natural order of daylight was disrupted (such as during a solar eclipse), the Sunnah was not to treat it as a mere spectacle, but to rush to prayer in fear of Allah's sovereignty over the cosmos, reflecting the theme of verse 71. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah... When you see them, invoke Allah and pray." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 16, Hadith 4).

2. The Arrogance of Qarun (Korah) and His Keys

Verses 76 introduces Qarun, a contemporary of Moses who grew staggeringly wealthy but tyrannized his own people:

"Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men..." (Qur'an 28:76)

Direct Hadith Parallel: The Consequence of Pride and Luxury

While the Qur'an details his ultimate punishment on the subsequent page (being swallowed by the earth), the Prophet ﷺ explicitly cited the spiritual pathology of Qarun—pride trailing behind expensive garments and material excess—as an active warning for the Muslim Ummah.

• The Hadith on Being Swallowed by the Earth: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "While a man was walking, clad in a two-piece garment boastfully, admiring himself with his hair well-combed, Allah suddenly caused the earth to swallow him up, and he will continue sinking into it until the Day of Resurrection." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 77, Hadith 28; Sahih Muslim, Book 37, Hadith 71). Classical commentators like Ibn Kathir note that while this Hadith applies generally to anyone with pride, it directly mirrors the historical execution of Qarun's divine punishment.

3. The Four Pieces of Advice Given to the Wealthy

In verses 76 and 77, the righteous scholars among the Israelites offer Qarun a timeless, four-part blueprint on how to handle wealth, which serves as a cornerstone of socio-economic ethics in the Sunnah:

1. "Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant."

2. "But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world."

3. "And do good as Allah has been good to you."

4. "And desire not corruption in the land."

Sunnah Parallels to the Advice

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ continually reinforced these identical principles to his companions regarding financial management:

• On Not Exulting in Wealth: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Wealth is not in having many possessions, but rather true wealth is the richness of the soul." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 81, Hadith 29).

• On Seeking the Hereafter with Wealth: The Sunnah encourages using money as a tool for eternal reward rather than hoarding it. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The financial upper hand [the one that gives charity] is better than the lower hand [the one that begs or takes]." (Sahih Muslim, Book 12, Hadith 124).

• On Not Forgetting One's Share of the World: Islam rejects extreme monasticism. Commenting on "do not forget your share of the world," classical scholars note that a Muslim is permitted to enjoy permissible (Halal) comforts. The Prophet ﷺ famously corrected three companions who wanted to fast continuously, pray all night without sleeping, and abstain from marriage, saying: "I fast and break my fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 67, Hadith 1).

References

• Abi Dawud, S. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Dawud. Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi.

• Ibn Kathir, A. I. (2000). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim. Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.

• Muslim, I. H. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim. Dar Ihya al-Kutub al-Arabiyyah.

(Note: Canonical references from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim follow the global standard numbering indexes).