This Surat was revealed in Mecca. Its theme is that Allah always prevails, and Allah’s promises will always be fulfilled.  This Theme is demonstrated by focusing exclusively on the story of Prophet Musa (موسى).  Allah says:

إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعً۬ا يَسۡتَضۡعِفُ طَآٮِٕفَةً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يُذَبِّحُ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ وَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ (٤) وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ (٥) وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ (٦)

Verily, Firawn (Pharaoh) exalted himself in the land and divided its people in groups, oppressing a group of them (i.e. Children of Israel), slaughtering their sons, and keeping their daughters alive. Indeed, he was of the mischief-makers. (4) And We intended to favor those who were oppressed in the land, and make them leaders and make them the inheritors, (5) And to establish them in the land, and We show Firawn (Pharaoh) and Haman and their army the very thing they were fearing from them. (28:4-6)

 Prophet Musa was born in the worst time, and his survival was practically impossible. It was the time when Pharaoh ordered the slaughter of all the newborn boys of Bani Israel out of fear that one of them will be responsible for the demise of his kingdom. But Allah has the ultimate control over what happens.  Allah’s control was clearly manifested in the most unexpected way. Allah made Pharaoh, himself, to be the one who protected and raised the one child from Bani Israel who will be responsible for his downfall.

The life of Prophet Musa was full of events that demonstrated that everything is under the control of Allah.   It started with his mother placing him in a cot and putting him in the river Nile to avoid him being discovered by the soldiers of pharaoh.

وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَرۡضِعِيهِ‌ۖ فَإِذَا خِفۡتِ عَلَيۡهِ فَأَلۡقِيهِ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحۡزَنِىٓ‌ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيۡكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ (٧)

And We inspired the mother of Musa (Moses), (telling): “Suckle him but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Indeed, We shall return him to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers.” (28:7)

By doing so, Musa was not only at risk of drowning but also at risk of being eaten by the crocodiles in the Nile. However, Allah had other plans:

فَٱلۡتَقَطَهُ ۥۤ ءَالُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لِيَڪُونَ لَهُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا وَحَزَنًا‌ۗ إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا ڪَانُواْ خَـٰطِـِٔينَ (٨) وَقَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ قُرَّتُ عَيۡنٍ۬ لِّى وَلَكَ‌ۖ لَا تَقۡتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُ ۥ وَلَدً۬ا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ (٩)

Then the household of Firawn (Pharaoh) picked him up (out of the river), so that he would become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Indeed, Firawn (Pharaoh), Haman and their soldiers were mistaken (8) And the wife of Firawn (Pharaoh) said (to Pharoah): “He will be a delight of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him, perhaps he will be of benefit to us, or we will adopt him as a son.” And they were not aware (of the outcome). (28:8-9)

Because Allah is always in control of everything, Musa was saved from these dangers, his cot did not land in any other location other than the shore of Pharaoh’s palace.    Allah also planned his arrival when the wife of the Pharaoh was absent.  If she was absent at that moment, the servants could have taken him to Pharoah who would have killed him. Allah also placed instantaneous love in the heart of pharaoh’s wife for that baby so that she would ask pharaoh to not kill Moses. Allah also made the pharaoh agree to break his own rule/law (killing Jewish babies) and to keep Moses alive.

In addition, Allah ensured that Moses would be returned to his mother as He promised her.  Allah did that by making baby Moses refuse any wet-nurse (مَرَضِعهِ) to suckle him. These accounts are presented in the Surat as follows:

وَأَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا‌ۖ إِن ڪَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِى بِهِۦ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (١٠) وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِ‌ۖ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٍ۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ (١١) ۞ وَحَرَّمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبۡلُ فَقَالَتۡ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ بَيۡتٍ۬ يَكۡفُلُونَهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُ ۥ نَـٰصِحُونَ (١٢) فَرَدَدۡنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّهِۦ كَىۡ تَقَرَّ عَيۡنُهَا وَلَا تَحۡزَنَ وَلِتَعۡلَمَ أَنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ۬ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (١٣)

And the heart of Moses’ mother became restless.  She was about to expose him, had We not strengthened her heart to remain among the believers. (10) And she (Musa’ mother) said to his sister: “track him.” So, she (his sister) watched him from a distance without being noticed. (11)  And We had already barred him (Musa) from (accepting) any suckling women. So, she (his sister came up and) said: “Shall I point out a family to you that will nurse him for you, and will take good care of him?” (12) Thus, We brought him back to his mother, so that her eye might be comforted, and that she might not grieve, and so that she might know that Allah’s Promise is true, but most of them do not know not. (28:10-13)

Allah promised the mother of Musa that He would protect her son and He would return her son to her, and He did, despite all the impossibilities. In addition, Allah protected Musa by reinforcing the heart of his mother when she was about to expose him by the doubt that creeped in her heart.

The accounts in this story should have comforted Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his companions because the Surat was revealed during the time of the Prophet’s emigration (Hijra) from Makkah to Madinah.  Just like the return of Musa to his home, the Surat assured the Prophet (PBUH) that he too will return to Mecca victoriously after leaving it secretly and in fear.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِى فَرَضَ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لَرَآدُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ۬‌ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَمَنۡ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (٨٥)

Surely, the One who imposed the Quran upon you, will surely bring you back to a place of return (Makkah). Say:  “My Lord knows best the one who has come with guidance, and the one who is in manifest error.” (28:85)

There is an analogy between Allah’s promise to the mother of Prophet Musa and the His promise to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).  However, the promise to Prophet Musa’s mother was fulfilled in about one day while the Prophet’s promise was fulfilled after 8 years.  We should always be confident that Allah’s promises will always be fulfilled in the time Allah decides and not necessarily the time we desire.  So, we should always be patient and remain steadfast on the path of Allah.

The Surat presents another part of Prophet Musa’s life after he became an adult / Musa was involved in a fight between one of Bani Israel and an Egyptian. He took the side of the one form Bani Israel and unintentionally killed the Egyptian.  Fearing the punishment of death for what he did, he fled from Egypt.  He went to Midian, which is located on the Red Sea, on the east shore of the Gulf of Aqaba, northwest of the Arabian Peninsula. Prophet Musa travelled about 300 miles to reach there.

The Surat provides several details and lessons to be learnt. The Tadabour of these Ayat is essential when reading the Quran. The account goes as follows:

وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلۡقَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ (٢٢) وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدۡيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيۡهِ أُمَّةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسۡقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمۡرَأَتَيۡنِ تَذُودَانِ‌ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُمَا‌ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسۡقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصۡدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ‌ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيۡخٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ (٢٣) فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلۡتَ إِلَىَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَقِيرٌ۬ (٢٤) فَجَآءَتۡهُ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا تَمۡشِى عَلَى ٱسۡتِحۡيَآءٍ۬ قَالَتۡ إِنَّ أَبِى يَدۡعُوكَ لِيَجۡزِيَكَ أَجۡرَ مَا سَقَيۡتَ لَنَا‌ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ۥ وَقَصَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ نَجَوۡتَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٢٥) قَالَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ (٢٦) قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أُنكِحَكَ إِحۡدَى ٱبۡنَتَىَّ هَـٰتَيۡنِ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَأۡجُرَنِى ثَمَـٰنِىَ حِجَجٍ۬‌ۖ فَإِنۡ أَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرً۬ا فَمِنۡ عِندِكَ‌ۖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنۡ أَشُقَّ عَلَيۡكَ‌ۚ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (٢٧) قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَكَ‌ۖ أَيَّمَا ٱلۡأَجَلَيۡنِ قَضَيۡتُ فَلَا عُدۡوَٲنَ عَلَىَّ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَڪِيلٌ۬ (٢٨) ۞ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلۡأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهۡلِهِۦۤ ءَانَسَ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ نَارً۬ا قَالَ لِأَهۡلِهِ ٱمۡكُثُوٓاْ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسۡتُ نَارً۬ا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنۡهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوۡ جَذۡوَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَصۡطَلُونَ (٢٩)

And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way.” (22) And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, “What is your circumstance?” They said, “We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man.” (23) So, he watered [their flocks] for them; then he went back to the shade and said, “My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.” (24) Then one of the two women came to him walking with shyness. She said, “Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us.” So when he came to him and related to him the story, he said, “Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people.” (25) One of the women said, “O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.” (26) He said, “Indeed, I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters, on [the condition] that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be [as a favor] from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous.” (27) [Moses] said, “That is [established] between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete – there is no injustice to me, and Allah, over what we say, is Witness.” (28) And when Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he perceived from the direction of the mount a fire. He said to his family, “Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there [some] information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves.” (28:22-29)

As in many stories in the Quran, Allah does not provide all the details and leaves gaps for the reader to derive.  This is an educational tool to build the cognitive capacity of Muslims, particularly the youth.  Many questions can be raised out of curiosity:

1. Who was the man whom Musa married his daughter?  Was he a prophet, chief of tribe or a common person? The reader needs to study other references to address this question.  Many interpreters suggested that he was Prophet Shuaib (شعيب). This is probably based on an Israelite account that mentioned the man’s name as Jethro. Jethro, in the Old Testament, is the priest of Midian of the Kenite clan While the name is not that important, giving a youth the assignment to find the name offers training on research.
2. How long did prophet Musa serve, 8 or 10 years? The host of Prophet Musa gave him the option to serve 8 or 10 years as a dower for his daughter.  The Ayat only state that after Musa finished the term, he decided to return to Egypt with his wife. For a youth to figure out the number of years, he/she needs to consider the following:  The reason that Musa left Egypt in the first place was that he killed an Egyptian. For him to return to Egypt it must be after the statute of limitation for this crime.  For the youth to figure the answer, he/she needs to search for the ancient Egyptian law.  The youth will discover that a formalized Egyptian law was established about 3000 BC and that system was adopted by the Greek and the Romans.
3. What lessons one can learn from the encounter between Prophet Musa and the two women that he helped with their flock of sheep? The encounter can give some guidance to the issue of woman’s work. One can draw two conclusions in this regard.  First, it is permissible for women to work if there is a need. Second, when women work, they should keep their boundaries and do not expose themselves to situations that require close mingling with men.

This Surat mentioned four women in the life of Prophet Musa.  They were Prophet Musa’s mother, his sister, the Pharaoh’s wife, and Prophet Musa’s wife.  Probably, she was the one who recommended to her father to hire Musa based on her assessment of his character.

قَالَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجِرۡهُ‌ۖ إِنَّ خَيۡرَ مَنِ ٱسۡتَـٔۡجَرۡتَ ٱلۡقَوِىُّ ٱلۡأَمِينُ (٢٦)

And one of them (the two daughters) said: “O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy.” (28:26)

Similarly, several women played a very significant role in the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).  They were Sayeda Khadijah (خديجة رضي الله) who supported Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with her money and love; Umm Salama (أم سلمة), Aisha (عائشة) and the rest of the Prophet’s wives, Somaiya (سمية), the first martyr in Islam, and Fatima (فاطمة), the daughter of the Prophet (PBUH).

The Surat provides details on the encounter of Musa with Allah during which Musa was assigned the responsibility of Allah’s messenger to Pharaoh.

فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلۡأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهۡلِهِۦۤ ءَانَسَ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ نَارً۬ا قَالَ لِأَهۡلِهِ ٱمۡكُثُوٓاْ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسۡتُ نَارً۬ا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنۡهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوۡ جَذۡوَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَصۡطَلُونَ (٢٩) فَلَمَّآ أَتَٮٰهَا نُودِىَ مِن شَـٰطِىِٕ ٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡأَيۡمَنِ فِى ٱلۡبُقۡعَةِ ٱلۡمُبَـٰرَڪَةِ مِنَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ أَن يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٣٠) وَأَنۡ أَلۡقِ عَصَاكَ‌ۖ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَہۡتَزُّ كَأَنَّہَا جَآنٌّ۬ وَلَّىٰ مُدۡبِرً۬ا وَلَمۡ يُعَقِّبۡ‌ۚ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَقۡبِلۡ وَلَا تَخَفۡ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَمِنِينَ (٣١) ٱسۡلُكۡ يَدَكَ فِى جَيۡبِكَ تَخۡرُجۡ بَيۡضَآءَ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ سُوٓءٍ۬ وَٱضۡمُمۡ إِلَيۡكَ جَنَاحَكَ مِنَ ٱلرَّهۡبِ‌ۖ فَذَٲنِكَ بُرۡهَـٰنَانِ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦۤ‌ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ ڪَانُواْ قَوۡمً۬ا فَـٰسِقِينَ (٣٢)

And when Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he perceived from the direction of the mount a fire. He said to his family, “Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there [some] information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves.” (29) But when he came to it, he was called from the right side of the valley in a blessed spot – from the tree, “O Moses, indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (30) And [he was told], “Throw down your staff.” But when he saw it writhing as if it was a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allah said], “O Moses, approach and fear not. Indeed, you are of the secure. (31) Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you [as prevention] from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his chiefs. Indeed, they have been defiantly disobedient people.” (28:29-32)

Despite the miracles and signs, the Pharaoh’s arrogance blinded him from the truth and thus he and his followers suffered the wrath of Allah.

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَڪُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرِى فَأَوۡقِدۡ لِى يَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلطِّينِ فَٱجۡعَل لِّى صَرۡحً۬ا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَطَّلِعُ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ (٣٨) وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرَ هُوَ وَجُنُودُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَظَنُّوٓاْ أَنَّهُمۡ إِلَيۡنَا لَا يُرۡجَعُونَ (٣٩) فَأَخَذۡنَـٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُ ۥ فَنَبَذۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ‌ۖ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ ڪَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٤٠) وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ يَدۡعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ (٤١)

And Pharaoh said, “O chiefs, I did not know any god for you other than me. Then, O Haman, ignite for me [a fire] on the clay and make for me a “sarh” that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I deem him to be one of the liars.” (38) This, he and his army showed arrogance in the land without any right, and they thought that they would not be returned to Us. (39) So, We took him and his soldiers and threw them into the sea. So, look how was the fate of the wrongdoers. (40) And We made them leaders calling (people) to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped. (28:38-41)

In these Ayat, Pharaoh asked Haman to build for him Sarh to search in the sky for the God of Musa.  As a reminder we discussed this term in Surat Al-Naml and suggested that this could have been an observatory.

In this Surat, Allah mentioned Haman several times, who apparently was a person of major authority in the kingdom of Pharaoh.   This raises another question: Who is Haman and what was his role?  Searching for the answer through studying the ancient Egyptian language may clarify whether Haman is a personal name or a title. This search will help in building superior cognitive capacity especially for the young reader of the Quran.

While the common understanding is that the children of Israel were all prosecuted in Egypt, the Surat shows that this understanding is incorrect and some of Bani Israel were part of the elite in the Egyptian society. The Surat gives us the story of one of them and he is Qaroun who extremely wealthy and also a participant in abusing and prosecuting the children of Israel.  He also rejected Prophet Musa and deserved to receive the wrath of Allah. Allah says:

إِنَّ قَـٰرُونَ ڪَانَ مِن قَوۡمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ‌ۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلۡكُنُوزِ مَآ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ ۥ لَتَنُوٓأُ بِٱلۡعُصۡبَةِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡقُوَّةِ إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ قَوۡمُهُ ۥ لَا تَفۡرَحۡ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَرِحِينَ (٧٦) وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَٮٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ وَأَحۡسِن ڪَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ (٧٧)

Verily, Qaroun was from the people of Musa, but he transgressed against them  . And We had given him such treasures, the weight of their keys would be too heavy for strong men. Recall when his people said to him: “Do not exult (with riches).  Surely, Allah does like those who exult. (76) But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and do not forget your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world and do good as Allah has been good to you, and do not cause mischief in the land. Verily, Allah does not like the mischief-makers. (28:76-77)

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عِندِىٓ‌ۚ (٧٨)

He said: “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess (28:78)

 As punishment for his arrogance and lack of gratitude to Allah, Allah made an example out of him:

فَخَسَفۡنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَمَا ڪَانَ لَهُ ۥ مِن فِئَةٍ۬ يَنصُرُونَهُ ۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُنتَصِرِينَ (٨١)

So, We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. So, there was no group to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves. (28:81)

 Another question for the curious youth: Where is the location at which Qaroun and his treasures were swollen by earth?  So far, no one discovered Qaroun’s treasures though it is suggested that the location is near the lake of Qaroun in Fayoum (الفيوم) district in Egypt. The lake covers about 330 square km, and its age is estimated to be 40 million years.

 Another interesting area in Fayoum (الفيوم) district where Qaroun lake exist is the valley of the whales (Wadi al-Hitan) where hundreds of fossils of the earliest forms of whale exist.

 Following this account, Allah stated the criteria for those who deserve success in the Hereafter:

تِلۡكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلۡأَخِرَةُ نَجۡعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّ۬ا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فَسَادً۬ا‌ۚ وَٱلۡعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٨٣) مَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ ۥ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّنۡہَا‌ۖ وَمَن جَآءَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجۡزَى ٱلَّذِينَ عَمِلُواْ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ إِلَّا مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ (٨٤)

“As far as the ultimate home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We assign it to those who do not show arrogance and do not cause mischief on the earth. And the good end is for those who have Taqwa. (83) Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have better than it; and whoever comes with an evil deed, those who commit evils will not be recompensed except with what they used to do. (28:83-84)

There is another interesting question which is: Who ruled Egypt Pharaoh and his army drowned.  Ayat suggest that Bani Israel ruled Egypt, as Allah says regarding Bani Israel:

وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمۡ أَٮِٕمَّةً۬ وَنَجۡعَلَهُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثِينَ (٥) وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنۡهُم مَّا ڪَانُواْ يَحۡذَرُونَ (٦).

And We intended to favor those who were oppressed in the land, and make them leaders and make them the inheritors, (5) And to establish them in the land, and We show Firawn (Pharaoh) and Haman and their army the very thing they were fearing from them. (28:5-6)

As final observation, there may be an analogy between the story of Prophet Musa in Surat Al-Qasas, and that in Surat Al-Kahf.

• In Surat Al Kahf, Prophet Musa was bewildered by what Al-Khidr did when he ruined the ship, killed the boy and showed generosity to the people who refused to host them.
• These three incidents happened to Prophet Musa as Surat Al-Qasas: his mother threw him into the river, he unintentionally killed one of the Egyptians, and the father of the two women hosted him for several years.