Moses began to face a difficult situation. He had to confront Pharaoh’s anger and his plots, while at the same time he had to deal with the mutiny of his people. In the midst of all this, Korah (Qaroun) moved.
Korah was one of Moses’ s people. He was very rich and lived in a magnificent mansion. He wore only the most expensive clothes. Numerous slaves waited on him and he indulged in every known luxury.
His enormous wealth made him arrogant. Korah treated the poor with contempt and told
them that their poverty was due to their lack of intelligence. He believed that what he owned was due to his own cleverness and business ability.
Moses reminded Korah to pay alms (zakat) on his wealth, a portion of which was rightfully due to the poor. Alms are compulsory upon all the believers. Korah was annoyed by this advice and told Moses that his being wealthy was proof that he was favored by Allah, Who approved of his life-style and increased his wealth daily. Moses argued with him and warned him of the result of his wicked thoughts.
When Korah did calculate the alms due on his wealth, he was shocked at the large amount he had to part with. He not only refused to give alms, but spread a rumor that Moses had invented the law of zakat for his own gain. He even bribed the people to oppose Moses and to spread wicked rumors about him.Allah warned Moses of Korah’s plot. Moses appealed to Allah to punish him for his stinginess and for defying His laws. Allah’s anger fell on Korah. The earth opened up and swallowed him, his mansion and all his wealth, as if he had never existed.
Korah – His Actions and Destruction – Quranic
Almighty Allah revealed:
“Verily, Korah was of Moses’s people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave
him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.
When his people said to him: “Do not be glad with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favors). Verily!
Allah likes not those who are glad (with wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of
the Hereafter, and forget nor your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as
Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the
Mufsideen (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, and mischief-makers, corrupts).”
He said: “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount of riches, they had collected. But the Murimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account).
So he went forth before his people in his pomp.
Those who were desirous of the life of the world said: “Ah, would that we had the like of what Korah has been given! Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune.”
But those who had been given religious knowledge said: “Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth).”
So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves. And those who had desired (for a position like) his position, the day before, began to say; “Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He please of His slaves? Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up also!”
Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful? (Ch 28:76-82 Quran).
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