Az-Zumar · Makki · ayah 50 of 75

Az-Zumar 39:50

قَدْ قَالَهَا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ

“Those before them had already said it, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.”

Saheeh International

Essence

'I earned it all myself' is an old sentence, said by people long gone, and everything they gathered did not give them enough.

A reflection

Qarun's sentence, and the ground that opened

Qad qālahā: they said it before. Said what? The commentaries agree: the claim of the previous ayah, 'I was given it only because of knowledge.' And they name the most famous speaker. Qarun.

The Quran tells his story in Surah Al-Qasas. He was from the people of Musa, and he oppressed them. His treasures were so great that the keys alone weighed down a group of strong men. His own people advised him kindly. Do not exult, for Allah does not love those who exult. Seek the Home of the Hereafter through what Allah has given you, and do not forget your share of this world. Do good as Allah has done good to you (28:76-77).

His reply was the sentence. I was given it only because of knowledge I have (28:78).

Then came the scene that ends the story. He went out before his people in his finery. Those who wanted this world said: if only we had what Qarun has been given. Then the earth was made to swallow him and his house. He had no group to help him against Allah (28:79-81).

And the most striking line comes the next morning. Those who had envied him the day before now spoke differently. Ah, they said, it is Allah who extends provision to whom He wills, and restricts it (28:82). Overnight, their whole view of wealth had changed.

This ayah in Az-Zumar points back to that story with three words. It does not retell it. It assumes the listener knows. The sentence has been said before, by a man who had more than anyone listening. Where is he now?

When the claim 'I made all this myself' rises in the heart, the story offers a picture to hold against it. A house that stood for years. A morning when the ground simply opened.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.