Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
In the time of Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam), there was a person named Qaaroon. He was the cousin of Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam). Allah Ta’ala had blessed him with such knowledge that from the Banu Israa’eel, he possessed the most knowledge of the Tauraah after Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) and Nabi Haaroon (alaihis salaam). He was also blessed with beauty and wealth, hence he was among the most handsome and wealthiest men of the Bani Israa’eel.
Despite Allah Ta’ala blessing Qaaroon with such abundant bounties, he rebelled against Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) and chose to tread on the path of defiance against Allah Ta’ala.
When the law of zakaat was revealed to Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam), Qaaroon refused to accept the law. He came to Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) and objected, after which he was given a concession to merely pay one dinar from every one thousand dinars, one dirham from every one thousand dirhams, one goat from every one thousand goats, and one commodity from every one thousand of the zakaatable commodities.
Even after receiving this concession, when Qaaroon returned home and calculated the zakaat he would have to pay, he felt that it was too much and was not prepared to pay it. He thus gathered some of the Banu Israa’eel and said to them, “O Banu Israa’eel! Musa has given you many commands, and you have always obeyed him. Now, he wishes to take your money as well!” The Banu Israa’eel responded saying, “You are our senior! We will do whatever you instruct us!”
Qaaroon said, “Bring so-and-so prostitute, and promise her a large payment in lieu of which she must accuse Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) of committing zina with her. When she does this, the Banu Israa’eel will rebel against Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) and reject him.”
Accordingly, they called the prostitute, and Qaaroon promised to give her a great treasure of wealth in exchange of her defaming Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) and claiming that he had committed zina with her.
The next day, Qaaroon assembled the Banu Israa’eel and then came with them to the home of Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam). He said to Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam), “The Banu Israa’eel are waiting for you to come out from your home to teach them the commands and prohibitions of the Shari’ah.”
Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) then came out and addressed the Banu Israa’eel who were all gathered in an open plain. Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam) said to them, “O Banu Israa’eel! The one who steals, we will cut off his hand. Whoever falsely accuses someone of zina, we will give him eighty lashes. The one who commits zina while unmarried, we will give him one hundred lashes. The one who commits zina while he is married, we will stone him to death.”
Hearing this, Qaaroon said, “What if you are the one who commits zina? Will the law still be applied to you?” Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) said, “Yes, even if I am the one.”
Qaaroon then said, “The Banu Israa’eel claim that you committed zina with so-and-so woman.” Hearing this accusation, Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) said to him, “Call this woman. If she says that I have committed zina with her, then I will accept the accusation.”
When the woman came, Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) addressed her and said, “O so-and-so! Have I committed zina with you – the evil act which these people are accusing me of?” Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) then emphasized to her the seriousness of the situation, and urged her to speak the truth saying, “I ask you in the name of the One Allah Ta‘ala who split the ocean for the Banu Israa’eel and revealed the Tauraah to speak the truth!”
The woman’s heart was affected and she thought to herself, “It is better for me to make taubah today then to cause harm to the Rasul of Allah.” Hence, she spoke up and said, “No! These people are lying! Rather, what happened is that Qaaroon promised me a large treasure of wealth in exchange of me accusing you of committing zina with me.”
Hearing these words, Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) fell into sajdah, weeping in dua saying, “O Allah! If I am your Rasul, then You show Your anger (on Qaaroon and take revenge on my behalf)!” Allah Ta‘ala revealed wahi to Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) saying, “I have commanded the earth to obey you, so command it as you wish.”
Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) then said to the Banu Israa’eel, “O Banu Israa’eel! Allah Ta‘ala sent me to Qaaroon, just as He sent me to Fir’aun. All those who are with Qaaroon should wait here, and all those who are with me should move away.”
Hearing this, all the people moved away, until only two people remained with Qaaroon. Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) then commanded the earth saying, “O earth! Seize them!” The earth then began to seize them and pull them into the ground, first until their ankles, then until their knees, then until their waists, then until their necks.
All this while, as they were sinking into the earth, they began to plead with Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam), begging him for mercy. Qaaroon called out, “Have mercy on us and forgive us!”
However, Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam) continued to instruct the earth to swallow them saying, “O earth! Seize them!”. Qaaroon pleaded with Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) seventy times, yet such was the anger of Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) that he did not turn towards him or listen to his pleas, until finally, at the command of Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam), the earth swallowed them entirely into its depths and they disappeared.
Allah Ta‘ala then sent wahi to Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) saying, “O Musa! Your heart did not become soft towards him when he pleaded with you, asking for mercy! He begged you for forgiveness seventy times, yet you did not forgive him! By the qasam of My honour and grandeur – had he asked Me for forgiveness just once, I would have certainly forgiven him!” (Tafseer Mazhari 7/185)
