سُوْرَةُ الْقَصَصِ
Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 78
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِىٓ ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴿78﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He said: "This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess." Did he not know that Allâh 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 Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allâh knows them well, so they will be punished without being called to account).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
إِنَّمَآ
innamā
Only
أُوتِيتُهُۥ
ūtītuhu
I have been given it
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on (account)
عِلْمٍ
ʿil'min
(of) knowledge
عِندِىٓ ۚ
ʿindī
I have
أَوَلَمْ
awalam
Did not
يَعْلَمْ
yaʿlam
he know
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
قَدْ
qad
indeed
أَهْلَكَ
ahlaka
destroyed
مِن
min
before him
قَبْلِهِۦ
qablihi
before him
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْقُرُونِ
l-qurūni
the generations
مَنْ
man
who
هُوَ
huwa
[they]
أَشَدُّ
ashaddu
(were) stronger
مِنْهُ
min'hu
than him
قُوَّةًۭ
quwwatan
(in) strength
وَأَكْثَرُ
wa-aktharu
and greater
جَمْعًۭا ۚ
jamʿan
(in) accumulation
وَلَا
walā
And not
يُسْـَٔلُ
yus'alu
will be questioned
عَن
ʿan
about
ذُنُوبِهِمُ
dhunūbihimu
their sins
ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
l-muj'rimūna
the criminals
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 78) ➊ {قَالَ اِنَّمَاۤ اُوْتِيْتُهٗ عَلٰى عِلْمٍ عِنْدِيْ:} He said, "Allah has no favor upon me; all of this has been given to me only because of the knowledge that I possess." This is similar to what today's materialist scientists say, that all our progress is due to our sciences, and Allah has no part in it. They do not think about who is the one who grants this intellect, intelligence, and skill. Another interpretation is that instead of considering {’’ عِنْدِيْ ‘‘} to refer to {’’ عِلْمٍ ‘‘}, it should be considered to refer to {’’ اُوْتِيْتُهٗ ‘‘}, in which case the meaning would be: "In my view, all of this has been given to me by Allah because He knows my deeds and qualities." That is, He knew that I am worthy of it; if I were disliked in His sight, why would He give me this wealth?
➋ What was the knowledge that Qarun was given? Some people say it was the knowledge of alchemy, with which he could make gold, but there is no evidence for this. Allah grants provision to a servant through trade, industry, agriculture, or whatever means, and the servant considers that means to be the cause of provision and forgets the Owner who made that knowledge and skill a means for him.
➌ {اَوَ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ اَهْلَكَ …:} That is, did this person, who was so proud of his knowledge and skill, not know that Allah had destroyed people before him who were stronger, had more accumulated wealth, and larger groups? Their knowledge and skill could not save them from destruction, so how will his knowledge, of which he is so proud, save him from destruction? And if having more wealth and supporters in the world is a sign of Allah's pleasure, then why did punishment come upon those who were stronger and greater in number than him?
➍ { وَ لَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَنْ ذُنُوْبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُوْنَ :} That is, criminals do claim that they are very good people, but when their crime is proven and Allah's punishment comes, they are not asked before being seized as to what their sins are.
➎ In another place it is said: «{ فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْـَٔلَنَّهُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ (92) عَمَّا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ } » [ الحجر : ۹۲، ۹۳ ] (So by your Lord, We will surely question them all, about what they used to do), so this does not contradict this verse, because the Day of Resurrection is very long. At the time of destroying the criminals, they are not asked about their sins, but at other places and occasions, they are questioned.
➋ What was the knowledge that Qarun was given? Some people say it was the knowledge of alchemy, with which he could make gold, but there is no evidence for this. Allah grants provision to a servant through trade, industry, agriculture, or whatever means, and the servant considers that means to be the cause of provision and forgets the Owner who made that knowledge and skill a means for him.
➌ {اَوَ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ اَهْلَكَ …:} That is, did this person, who was so proud of his knowledge and skill, not know that Allah had destroyed people before him who were stronger, had more accumulated wealth, and larger groups? Their knowledge and skill could not save them from destruction, so how will his knowledge, of which he is so proud, save him from destruction? And if having more wealth and supporters in the world is a sign of Allah's pleasure, then why did punishment come upon those who were stronger and greater in number than him?
➍ { وَ لَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَنْ ذُنُوْبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُوْنَ :} That is, criminals do claim that they are very good people, but when their crime is proven and Allah's punishment comes, they are not asked before being seized as to what their sins are.
➎ In another place it is said: «{ فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسْـَٔلَنَّهُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَ (92) عَمَّا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ } » [ الحجر : ۹۲، ۹۳ ] (So by your Lord, We will surely question them all, about what they used to do), so this does not contradict this verse, because the Day of Resurrection is very long. At the time of destroying the criminals, they are not asked about their sins, but at other places and occasions, they are questioned.
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
78-1 In response to these admonitions, he said this. It means that the skill of trade and business that I possess, this wealth is the result and fruit of that, what does it have to do with Allah’s grace and favor? The other meaning that has been given is that Allah has given me this wealth because of His knowledge, that I am deserving of it and He has chosen it for me. As in another place, Allah has quoted another saying of humans, when a person is afflicted with hardship, he calls upon Us, then when We bestow Our favor upon him, he says (اِنَّمَآ اُوْتِيْتُهٗ عَلٰي عِلْمٍ عِنْدِيْ) (28. Al-Qasas: 78) i.e., ‘on account of Allah’s knowledge,’ meaning I received this blessing because, in Allah’s knowledge, I was deserving of it. In another place, it is said, when We show mercy to man after hardship, he says (ھٰذَا لِي) (41. Fussilat: 50) i.e., ‘this is my due’ (Ibn Kathir). Some say that Qarun knew alchemy (the art of making gold), and that is what is meant here, that through this alchemy he earned so much wealth. But Imam Ibn Kathir says that this knowledge is entirely falsehood, deception, and fraud. No person is capable of changing the essence of a thing. Therefore, it was not possible for Qarun either to turn other metals into gold and thus amass heaps of wealth.
78-2 That is, abundance of power and wealth is not a cause of excellence; if it were so, previous nations would not have been destroyed. Therefore, Qarun’s pride in his wealth and considering it a mark of excellence has no justification.
78-3 That is, when sins are so numerous that because of them one becomes deserving of punishment, then there is no questioning, rather, they are suddenly seized and punished.
78-2 That is, abundance of power and wealth is not a cause of excellence; if it were so, previous nations would not have been destroyed. Therefore, Qarun’s pride in his wealth and considering it a mark of excellence has no justification.
78-3 That is, when sins are so numerous that because of them one becomes deserving of punishment, then there is no questioning, rather, they are suddenly seized and punished.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
78. He said, "I have been given all this only because of the knowledge I possess [104]." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed many generations before him who were mightier than him in strength and greater in wealth [105]? And the criminals will not be questioned about their sins [106].
[104]
In response to this advice, Qarun said:
How has anyone else’s right come into my wealth? All this wealth I have earned myself. I have earned it through hard work. I have earned it on the basis of my own skill, experience, and ability. Then how has anyone else’s right become included in it? That you are now advising me to fulfill the rights of others.
[105]
Qarun’s Reply and Lack of Foresight:
While giving this answer, Qarun did not even consider that the skill, experience, and ability he was mentioning had been granted to him by Allah alone. Thus, forgetting his true Benefactor, he began to take pride in his own wealth and competence. Then he did not even consider that wealth is a fleeting shadow; if it has been gathered with him, it can also be taken away from him. Then can this wealth even guarantee peace and security? How many people were there who surpassed him in power and wealth, but when they showed arrogance, Allah destroyed and ruined them. And they died in utter helplessness and regret, leaving behind all their wealth and treasures.
[106] That is, the record of all the deeds and words of the criminals is already present with Allah. It is not necessary that the criminals be questioned about their sins, and only if they confess will their crimes be proven. And if they are questioned on the Day of Resurrection, it will be to disgrace and rebuke them in front of all creation. And its second meaning is that the standard for whether the deeds of the criminals are good or bad does not depend on the criminals’ own opinion. Criminals will always claim that they are very good people and that there is nothing wrong with them. Just as Qarun also considered himself to be in the right. Therefore, the punishment that criminals receive will not depend on whether the criminal himself considers the act to be a crime or not.
[104]
In response to this advice, Qarun said:
How has anyone else’s right come into my wealth? All this wealth I have earned myself. I have earned it through hard work. I have earned it on the basis of my own skill, experience, and ability. Then how has anyone else’s right become included in it? That you are now advising me to fulfill the rights of others.
[105]
Qarun’s Reply and Lack of Foresight:
While giving this answer, Qarun did not even consider that the skill, experience, and ability he was mentioning had been granted to him by Allah alone. Thus, forgetting his true Benefactor, he began to take pride in his own wealth and competence. Then he did not even consider that wealth is a fleeting shadow; if it has been gathered with him, it can also be taken away from him. Then can this wealth even guarantee peace and security? How many people were there who surpassed him in power and wealth, but when they showed arrogance, Allah destroyed and ruined them. And they died in utter helplessness and regret, leaving behind all their wealth and treasures.
[106] That is, the record of all the deeds and words of the criminals is already present with Allah. It is not necessary that the criminals be questioned about their sins, and only if they confess will their crimes be proven. And if they are questioned on the Day of Resurrection, it will be to disgrace and rebuke them in front of all creation. And its second meaning is that the standard for whether the deeds of the criminals are good or bad does not depend on the criminals’ own opinion. Criminals will always claim that they are very good people and that there is nothing wrong with them. Just as Qarun also considered himself to be in the right. Therefore, the punishment that criminals receive will not depend on whether the criminal himself considers the act to be a crime or not.
