Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 77

(Ayah 77) ➊ {وَ ابْتَغِ فِيْمَاۤ اٰتٰىكَ اللّٰهُ الدَّارَ الْاٰخِرَةَ:} And seek, by means of what Allah has granted you, the final abode, that is, Paradise.

➋ { وَ لَا تَنْسَ نَصِيْبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا :} That is, do not forget what your share is in the world that has been given to you. The best explanation of this is the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ يَقُوْلُ الْعَبْدُ مَالِيْ مَالِيْ إِنَّمَا لَهُ مِنْ مَّالِهِ ثَلَاثٌ، مَا أَكَلَ فَأَفْنٰی أَوْ لَبِسَ فَأَبْلٰی أَوْ أَعْطٰی فَاقْتَنٰی وَمَا سِوَی ذٰلِكَ فَهُوَ ذَاهِبٌ وَ تَارِكُهُ لِلنَّاسِ ] [مسلم، الزھد، باب ’’ الدنیا سجن للمؤمن و جنۃ للکافر ‘‘ : ۲۹۵۹ ] “A servant says: ‘My wealth, my wealth,’ but of his wealth, only three things are his: what he ate and consumed, or what he wore and wore out, or what he gave (in the way of Allah) and stored up (for the Hereafter). And whatever is besides that, he is leaving it behind for the people (when he departs from this world).” Some exegetes have said that a person’s share in something is not what is separated from him, but what remains with him. According to this, a person’s share from the world is the good deed that will accompany him to the Hereafter. And some exegetes have said that the share of a person from the world refers to his shroud, because apart from that, he takes nothing with him:

{نَصِيْبُكَ مِمَّا تَجْمَعُ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ ¤ رِدَائَانِ تُلْوٰي فِيْهِمَا وَ حَنُوْطُ}

“All your life, whatever you accumulate, your share of it is two sheets in which you will be wrapped and the fragrance applied to the dead.”

An explanation that most exegetes have mentioned is that a greedy person sometimes reaches such a level of miserliness that he even refrains from spending on himself, being miserly in his food, clothing, and other necessities. The elders advised Qarun not to forget his share in the world, and to spend on himself as needed. All four of these explanations are correct and support each other.

➌ { وَ اَحْسِنْ كَمَاۤ اَحْسَنَ اللّٰهُ اِلَيْكَ :} That is, just as Allah has done ihsan (excellent treatment) with you, granting you this wealth, status, and splendor without any recompense, you too should do ihsan with Allah’s creation, that is, treat them excellently without desiring any reward from them. This is the explanation of ihsan, because Allah has given the servant whatever He has given without any recompense. The same ihsan is commanded with parents, as He said: «{ وَ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ۠ اِحْسَانًا }» [ بني إسرائیل : ۲۳ ] “And treat parents with utmost excellence.” Because in old age, there is no expectation of recompense from them. The explanation of ihsan in the hadith is also: [ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللّٰهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَّمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ] [بخاري، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم … : ۵۰ ] “Worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then (know that) He sees you.” According to this explanation, the meaning will be that just as Allah has treated you excellently, you too should deal excellently with Him, keeping Him in view at all times and in every action, and be mindful of His watchfulness over you in every state, so that your every action and movement is in accordance with His pleasure; this is ihsan.

➍ { وَ لَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْاَرْضِ …:} Every corruption and mischief in the land arises from associating partners with Allah and disobeying Him and His Messenger, as He said: «{ ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ اَيْدِي النَّاسِ }» [ الروم : ۴۱ ] “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s hands have earned.” The wise people of the nation forbade Qarun from seeking corruption in the land and informed him that Allah does not love those who spread corruption.