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 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.
