Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 34007 — Reports on the virtue of Musa

Abdullah bin al-Harith reports from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when Musa (peace be upon him) came to his people and commanded them to give zakah, Qarun gathered them and said: This man has brought you commands, namely prayer, fasting and so on, that you are able to bear. But are you able to bear giving him your wealth? They said: We are not able to bear that. What is your opinion? He said: My opinion is that we send word to the prostitute of the Children of Israel and order her to accuse him, in front of the rabbis and the people, of having made an attempt on her honour. They did so, and that woman accused Musa (peace be upon him) in front of the people. He supplicated against them, and Allah Almighty revealed to the earth: Obey him. So Musa (peace be upon him) said to it: Seize them. It seized them up to their heels, and they began to say: O Musa! O Musa! He said again: Seize them. So it seized them up to the knees, and they said: O Musa! O Musa! He said again: Seize them. So it seized them up to the waist, and they again said: O Musa! O Musa! He said: Seize them. So it seized them up to the neck, and they said: O Musa! O Musa! Then the earth made them disappear. Allah Almighty then revealed to Musa (peace be upon him): O Musa! My servants asked you and pleaded with you in humility, but you refused to heed them. By My Might! Had they called upon Me, I would have answered their supplication.