The Holy Quran 28:82 — Surah Al-Qasas

Arabic text

وَأَصْبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا۟ مَكَانَهُۥ بِٱلْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ ۖ لَوْلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ۖ وَيْكَأَنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ

Translation

The next morning those who yearned to be like him the previous day said, “O dear! Indeed Allaah increases (extends) sustenance for those bondsmen He wills and decreases (for whoever He wills. We should therefore be content with what Allaah has given us). (We were wrong to think that Allaah had not favoured us by giving us what Qaaroon had because) If it were not for Allaah's favour (mercy) on us, we would also have been plunged (sunk into the earth like him). Alas! The Kaafiroon will certainly not succeed (despite their vast fortunes)."

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

A lesson for the people: that is, those who yesterday, seeing Qarun’s advancement and elevation, were wishing, “If only we too had attained such eminence!”, today, seeing his evil end, began to clap their hands over their ears [in dismay]. Now they came to their senses and realised that such wealth is in reality a beautiful snake filled with deadly poison.

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