The Weakness of Wanting to be Great

The Weakness of Wanting to be Great

1991 7 July 10-11 The Weakness of Wanting to be Great (690) Korah (Qarun.), although an Israeli Muslim, has been mentioned in the Qur’an along with Pharaoh and Haman, who were unbelievers. This was because he had severed his relations with the Israelites in order to align himself with Pharaoh, the cruel monarch of the time.

He is mentioned in the Bible by the name of Korah (Exodus, 6:18-21), a cousin of Moses, the father of Moses and Korah being real brothel’s. Korah was born into an Israelite family and, as such, was a Muslim, according to the religion of the time. God had bestowed upon him an extraordinary personality and exceptional capabilities. Now it very often happens that people who are so gifted suffer-consciously or unconsciously – from the desire to be rewarded for their merits in this world itself. Korah was no different. Beset by this same weakness, he gradually distanced himself from the Israelites, who were, in any case, a downtrodden community, and came closer to Pharaoh.

The key to all worldly glory was held by Pharaoh, and Korah’s policy of expediency unlocked all the doors of wealth and honour for him. Driven by an overriding love of wealth and power, he ultimately reached the zenith of glory, standing third in the hierarchy after Pharaoh, the king, and Haman, the Prime Minister. Thus, with his newly acquired high rank, he became one of the pillars of the Coptic empire. He then fancied that he had been granted all these worldly advantages because of his own capabilities. (Qur’an, 28:78). On the contrary, his new-found honours were the price of his betrayal of his own community.

The truth of the matter was that Pharaoh had a plan to obliterate the Israelites, but did not want to be accused of having done so because of any grievances he had against them on grounds of race. He needed, therefore, to have in his entourage a well-known figure who was himself an Israelite. In that way, he could pretend that he had only acted for the good of the country, for surely it ought to be obvious to everyone that he would not appoint an Israelite to such a high position if racial prejudice were really a motivating factor. Korah’s status, far from being the result of his own merits, were attained, therefore, at the cost of the Israelites’ destruction.

Korah’s ultimate fate is described in the Qur’an:

Qarun (Korah) was one of Musa’s people. But he treated them with insolence, for we had given him such treasures that their very keys would have weighed down a band of sturdy men. His people said to him: ‘Do not exult (in your riches); Allah does not love the exultant. But seek, by means of that which Allah has given you, to attain the abode of the Hereafter. Do not forget your share in this world. Be good to others as Allah has been good to you, and do not strive for evil in the land, for Allah does not love the evildoers.’ But he replied,’ These riches were given me on account of the knowledge I possess.’ Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him from the generations men who were mightier and greater money-collectors than he? The wrongdoers shall not be questioned about their sins. And when he went out in all his finery among his people, those who loved this life said: ‘Would that we had the like of Qarun’s fortune! He is indeed a lucky man.’ But those to whom knowledge had been given said: ‘Alas for you! better is the reward of Allah for him who has faith and does good works; but none shall attain it save the patient.’

We cause the earth to swallow him, together with his dwelling, so that he found none to protect him from Allah; nor was he one of those who defended themselves. And those who on the day before had coveted his lot began to say: ‘Behold! Allah gives abundantly to whom He will and sparingly to whom He pleases. Had he not shown us favour, He could have caused the earth to swallow us. Behold! The ungrateful shall never prosper.” (28:76-82).