The stories of Sulaiman and Qarun 

By : Saud Jukaku - UK

All praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him, we seek His Help and we 
seek His Forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the
evil of our own deeds and from the evil of our own soul. Whomsoever 
Allaah guides, none can misguide and whomsoever Allaah 
allows to stray none can guide.

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and 
that Muhammad (pbuh) is His Messenger. To proceed:


"And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will 
give you more; but if you are thankless, verily My punishment is indeed 
severe."

Chapter Ibraheem 7

"Say 'It is He (Allaah) who has created you and endowed you with 
hearing and seeing and hearts. Little thanks do you give.'"

Chapter al Mulk 23

Here are two true stories showing us the importance of being thankful 
to ar-Razzaaq (the Provider).



The story of Qarun (Chapter al Qasas 76-82)


The first is the case of Qarun, a man who lived at the time of the 
Prophet Moses. Allaah says:

“Indeed Qarun was of Moses’ people, but he behaved arrogantly towards 
them. And I gave him of the treasures, that its keys would have been a 
burden to a body of strong men. Remember when his people said to him : 
'Do not exult (with riches). 
Indeed Allaah likes not those who exult (being ungrateful to Allaah.)’”

Qarun was said to be the cousin of Prophet Moses but Allaah states that 
he behaved badly towards his people.  Allaah blessed him 
with so much wealth that just the keys to his treasure chests needed 
many men to carry them!  Imagine then
the amount of wealth that he had. Its like a person who has so many 
credit cards that he needs a car to transport them all! 


Sincere advice


Allaah then tells us that some of his people tried to advise him. They 
told him not to be arrogant in front of
people but to thank Allaah and act humbly. They continued, advising him 
sincerely:

“But seek, with that which Allaah has given you, the home of the 
Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment 
in this world; and do good as Allaah has been good to you, and seek not 
mischief in the land. Certainly, Allaah does not 
like the oppressors.” 

They told him to use the wealth and talents that Allaah had given him 
to get to the Hereafter, and after you have done that 
then seek the halal things that this world has to offer.  See here the 
priority of the Hereafter over the dunya. Do you know
why the dunya is called such? For two reasons- firstly, at the present 
time, it is closer (arabic- adnaa) to the humans than the Hereafter. 
Secondly, it is lowly (daneeah) compared to the Hereafter.

How much of the 24 hours in the day is spent seeking of the Hereafter, 
and how much seeking the benefits of this life?  A few minutes here and 
there for the odd prayer, maybe 10 minutes of Quran and thats about 
it...

"Nay, you prefer the life of this world
Although the Hereafter is better and more Lasting."

Chapter al-A'laa 16-17

Then they told him to help other people because Allaah has helped him. 
This is one of the ways of giving thanks to Allaah. 


Ingratitude


"He (Qarun) said 'This (wealth) has been given to me only because of 
the knowledge i possess.' Did he not know that Allaah 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 criminals will not be questioned about their sins (because 
Allaah knows them well).

So he went forth before his people in his pomp.  Those who were 
desirous of the life of the world, said: 'Ah, if only we were 
given the like of what Qarun has been given! Indeed he is the owner of 
great fortune.'"

Qarun failed to thank Allaah for his wealth but instead thought that it 
was his because of his hard work, intellect and
skill in business. Qarun then went out in front of his people in 
expensive clothes and with all his wealth showing.  A group of ignorant 
people 
who desired the dunya saw him in this state and became envious of him, 
wishing that they were given what Qarun had been given. They failed to 
realise that the wealth that he was given was insignificant in the 
sight of Allaah. 

"But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: 'Woe to you! 
The reward of Allaah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe 
and do righteous deeds and none shall attain this except those who are 
as-Sabirun."


Knowledge


Allaah tells us that there was a group of people who understood that 
the wealth and pleasures of this life is nothing compared 
to the delights of Paradise and that only people who are patient in 
following the truth will achieve them. What is the 
special quality that singled out these people from the others? It is 
religious knowledge, i.e. the knowledge of Allaah's 
Names and Atributes, His religion, His commands and prohibitions etc. 

So, if someone was to ask us "Who or what is Allaah?", what would we 
say? 

"So I caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he 
had no group or party to help him against Allaah, nor 
was he one of those who could save themselves."

Allaah blessed this man with so much; his wealth was so vast that the 
keys to his treasures alone needed several men to 
carry them; he was highly respected by his people; he had beautiful 
clothes, expensive property and much more; yet he never thanked Allaah and 
so deserved destruction.  And what was the method of his downfall?  A 
mufassir (scholar of tafsir) commented that because Qarun was proud and 
elevated his nafs (self) above its rightful position, Allaah, the King 
of Kings, made the opposite happen and caused him to sink in to the 
earth. 


Redemption


"And those who had desired his (Qarun's) position the day before began 
to say: 'Don't you know that it is Allaah Who enlarges 
the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His slaves. 
Had it not been that Allaah was Gracious to us, He 
could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)! Don't you know 
that the disbelievers will never be successful?'"

Do you remember the people who saw Qarun and were jealous of his 
wealth? Allaah blessed them by making them see the 
punishment in front of their own eyes so that they could learn from it. 
They then understood that it is truely Allaah, 
ar-Razzaaq, the Provider, who enables people to attain good whether it 
be health, wealth or knowledge. 


The story of Sulaimaan (an Naml 23-40)


The second example is the case of the great Prophet and King Sulaimaan, 
upon him be peace, when an amazing miracle 
took place in front of him.  The Prophet Sulaimaan was blessed with 
many amazing powers including being able to talk 
to the animals and birds, control the jinn, control the wind for a 
certain distance, and he was given a huge Kingdom the like of which the 
earth had never seen.  

Queen of Sheba

While the centre of Sulaimaan's kingdom was based in Jerusalem, he was 
told by his scout that in Yemen there was a queen who also had a great 
empire but that she and her people were disbelievers in Allaah.  

The scout (which was a bird) said "I found a woman ruling over them, 
she has been given all things that could be possessed 
by any ruler of the earth, and she has a great throne." Note here that 
the throne was singled out for distinction 
despite saying that she had a great empire.  It was said that this 
throne was encrusted with pearls, rubies and all
sorts of jewels.  

Being a Prophet, Sulaiman wrote a letter to the Queen, whose name was 
Bilqees, inviting her to come to his Kingdom and accept Islam. In order 
to show her the power that Allaah blessed him with as a Prophet, he 
asked his people for her magnificent throne to be transported to him 
before she arrived in Jerusalem.  This is despite Bilqees securing her 
throne inside many rooms and having it guarded.

"An 'Ifreet (strong one) from the jinn said 'I will bring it to you 
before you rise from your place. And verily, i am indeed
strong and trustworthy for such work.'"

Sulaimaan wanted it quicker than this so the request was still open. 

"One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said 'I will bring it to 
you within the twinkling of an eye.'"

Who was this person who had knowledge of the scripture? It is said his 
name was Asif, he was the scribe of Sulaimaan, and he 
knew Allaah's greatest Name. So he prayed and said 'O Possessor of 
Majesty and Honour (Yaa dhal jalaali wal ikraam)' and Allaah answered his 
du'aa.

Imagine the scene. Here was Sulaymaan, a Prophet, ruler of the greatest 
kingdom in history, given magnificent powers, and he has just seen a 
great miracle. The huge throne was transported instantly from Yemen to 
Jerusalem right in front of eyes.  What do you think he said? Did he 
praise himself or marvel at the power of his kingdom? 

"Then when he saw it (the throne) placed before him, he said "This is 
by the grace of my Lord to test me whether I am 
grateful or ungrateful.  And whomsoever is grateful, truly, his 
gratitude is for (the good of) his own self; and whomsoever 
is ungrateful then certainly my Lord is Rich, Bountiful." 

The wealth, career, skills etc. that one has is only from the grace of 
Allaah, and it is to test man what his attitude will be with them. Will 
he use them and sacrifice his time, money and life to get closer to 
Allaah or will he worship Allaah here and there whenever it suits him?

"Indeed, I have made what is on the earth as an adornment for it, in 
order that I may test them (man) as to which of them are best in deeds."

Chapter al Kahf 7

And when man is able to do good deeds, he should remember that this 
benefits him alone as Allaah is not in need of his worship. And if he is 
ungrateful then this is against his own self. 


Give thanks to Allaah in secretly and in open


We see that when man acknowledges the favours of his Lord by thanking 
Him openly and in secret, He increases the bounties on him. And we know 
that the Prophet Sulaiman was blessed with the greatest kingdom the 
earth has ever seen. So should we not increase in our thanks and praise to 
Allaah? 


Benefits 


1. Being related to someone noble does not mean that his of her 
blessings will automatically fall on you. Qarun was related to Musa, one of 
the five greatest Prophets of Allaah (Nooh, Ibraheem, Musa, Eesa and 
Muhammad peace be upon them all) but it did not benefit him at all.

2. Being wealthy, handsome, intellectual or skilled in business does 
not necessarily mean that Allaah loves that person.

3. Lets get our priorities right. First Hereafter, then the dunya. 
Remember the advice of Umar "Bring yourselves to account before you are 
brought to account."

4. Remember it is Allaah, the Bestower, who has given us the talents 
and bounties that we possess.

5. Do not be like the ignorant people who saw Qarun with all his wealth 
and thought he was 'successful' in life. Being a 
professional with a nice family and house does not mean we have arrived 
in life ('powlo' - as we Bhatkallys say).

6. Be one of those who has religious knowledge i.e knowledge of Allaah 
and his commands so that you can have firaasah 
(true insight/ intuition).

7. Give sincere, good advice like the people who said that the reward 
of the Hereafter is better.  So advise a man who is not
praying, a man who gossips about others, a man who cheats in business, 
a man who behaves badly with his family because this
is your duty to him and to Allaah. I believe a person does not give 
advice due to three reasons:

           - He lacks sincerity towards the muslims so he does not want 
good for them
           - He lacks religious knowledge so he cannot give beneficial 
advice
           - He lacks courage to give the advice 

I ask Allaah to remove these weaknesses from myself and you.

8. Remind yourself of the Power of Allaah. Yes He is the Forgiver of 
sin, yes He is the Acceptor of Repentance but He is also
the Severe in punishment.  One only needs to think back to water-borne 
'natural' disasters in recent years. 

9. Take heed from the misfortune of others (if it is because they are 
disobeying Allaah). See how the people changed their 
opinion and outlook on life when they saw Qarun being destroyed.      

10. Realise the importance of religious knowledge because in the story 
of Sulaimaan, the scribe had religious knowledge and that was why he 
was able to bring the throne so quickly. 

11. The way to do du'aa is to praise Allaah, using his Names and 
Attributes, send blessings upon the Prophet (saw), ask Allaah for whatever 
you want and finally praise the Prophet (saw) again.  

12. Remember the blessings of Allaah upon you especially in times of 
ease and realise that your worship is only benefitting
your own self. 

13. Things such as wealth, health and knowledge are actually tests from 
Allaah and not the objective in life. 

14. The greatness of the Prophets of Allaah including Sulaimaan. Read 
about these great men, and name your children
after them so they have inspiring role models. 

15. Do good to people like how Allaah has done good to you. Feed the 
beggar instead of giving him the odd rupee, help the unemployed get a 
job, help the homeless by giving them shelter and so on....

16. Lastly, read the Quran with meaning and tafakkur (contemplation) 
because even the basic muslim can derive so many benefits from it, as 
seen here. 


Indeed, all Praise belongs to Allaah and all good is from Him.