| Pain, Pleasure and Prejudice The Complete Layman’s Guide to the Koran Moses vs. Karoon a.k.a. Korah In the Bible (Numbers 16, I-35) Korah is a leader of the Israelites who challenges the leadership of Moses and Aaron and who, with his household and his followers, is swallowed up by the earth for his act of defiance. Numbers 16:33 “They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.” In the Koran, the defiant Korah becomes the wealthy and ostentatious Karoon. In the Koran, Karoon and his household are suffocated under tons of sand because he flaunted his wealth. The real story of Korah, a.k.a. Karoon, has revealed by Allah to His Messenger, and the lesson to be learned. 28:76 Now Karoon belonged to the clan of Moses[76], then he lorded it over them. We have given him treasures, the keys of which would weigh down the mighty band. When his people said to him: “Do not exult; Allah does not like the exultant; 28:77 “But seek, thanks to what Allah gave you, the Hereafter, and do not forget your portion of the herebelow. Be charitable, as Allah has been charitable to you, and do not seek corruption in the land; for Allah does not like the seekers of corruption.” 28:78 He said: “What I have been given is due to knowledge I possess.” Did he not know that Allah has destroyed, before him, generations of men stronger than he and richer? However, the criminals shall not be questioned regarding their sins. 28:79 And so he went out unto his people in his finery. Those who desire the present life said: “Would that we possessed the like of what Karoon has been given. He is indeed a very fortunate man.” 28:80 But those possessed of knowledge said: “Woe betide you; the Reward of Allah is better for him who believes and acts righteously, and that is not accorded except to the steadfast.” 28:81 Then, We caused the earth to cave in on him and his household; and so he had no company to support him against Allah; and he was not one of the winners. 28:82 And those who had wished they were in his place yesterday were saying: “No wonder that Allah increases the provision to whomever He wishes of His servants and restricts it. Had Allah not been Gracious to us, He would have caused the earth to cave in on us. No wonder that the unbelievers will never prosper.” Wealth, who has it and what they do with it is very much a pre-occupation, almost an obsession, of Allah and His Messenger. Just being rich is reason enough for Allah to cause your complete destruction, as He explains in the following revelations sent prior to Him setting up Karoon as an example of what not to do with your wealth. 28:58 And how many a city We have destroyed that had grown prodigal in its living. There are its dwellings, left uninhabited after they were gone, except for a few. We became the inheritors. Allah is not into trivial accusations, and neither are Islamic critics of Western Civilizations who would argue that a civilization that produces so much wealth is, by Allah’s definition, an evil civilization which must be destroyed. Perhaps, but not before He has sent a warner to its capital city (which, to my knowledge He did not do before the September 11 attacks). 28:59 Your Lord, however, never destroys the cities, unless He first sends to their mother-city a Messenger, to recite to them Our Revelations. And We never destroy any cities, unless their inhabitants are wrongdoers. And who are the wrongdoers? The wrongdoers, whether they be believers or unbelievers, are those who value what this life has to offer in the here-and-now as opposed to the extravagant life Allah promises in the hereafter. 28:60 Whatever you have been given is merely the pleasure of this life and its finery; but what Allah has in His possession is better and more lasting. Do you not understand? Does having excessive wealth by Allah’s standards make you an immediate target of His Wrath and that of His followers? Not if you spend a godly portion of your wealth, as the Saudis do, on promoting Islam wherever and whenever the opportunity arises. The Saudi princes, and other wealthy believers who spend a good part of what Allah has given them from His Bounty on ridding the world of unbelievers, will be admitted into Paradise, no questions asked, as if they had done the actual killing and dying on His behalf. They may not however, be admitted to the highest level of Paradise, the seventh level where Allah sits on His throne and which is reserved for the Prophet Muhammad, Abraham… and martyrs e.g. suicide bombers. 61:9 It is He Who sent His Messenger forth with the guidance and the religion of truth, to make it triumph over every religion, even though the idolaters may be averse. 61:10 O believers, shall I show you a trade which will deliver you from a very painful punishment? 61:11 Believe in Allah and His Messenger and struggle in the Cause of Allah with your possessions (wealth) and yourselves. That is far better for you, if only you knew. 61:12 He will then forgive your sins and admit you into the Gardens, beneath which rivers flow, and into fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. That is the great triumph. ------- [76] In another remembrance of mass murders, Karoon is an Egyptian to whom Moses brought “the clear proofs.” 29:39 And [remember] Karoon, Pharaoh and Haman. Moses came to them with the clear proofs, but they waxed proud in the land and they did not outstrip Us. In Muhammad Assad and Yousaf Ali’s translations of the Koran, "Cry", in the following revelation is interpreted as “a deadly storm wind” and “a violent tornado” respectively. 29:40 Each, We seized for his sin. Upon some We loosed a squall of pebbles, some were overwhelmed with the Cry , some we caused the ground to cave in under and some we drowned. Allah did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. |
