Now Korah23 was of the people of Moses:  but he behaved haughtily toward them; for we had given him such treasure that its keys would have burdened a company of men of strength.  When his people said to him, “Exult not, for God loveth not those who exult;

But seek, by means of what God hath given thee, to attain the future Mansion; and neglect not thy part in this world, but be bounteous to others as God hath been bounteous to thee, and seek not to commit excesses on the earth; for God loveth not those who commit excesses:” 

He said, “It hath been given me only on account of the knowledge that is in me.”  Did he not know that God had destroyed before him generations that were mightier than he in strength and had amassed more abundant wealth?  But the wicked shall not be asked of their crimes.

And Korah went forth to his people in his pomp.  Those who were greedy for this present life said, “Oh that we had the like of that which hath been bestowed on Korah!  Truly he is possessed of great good fortune.”

But they to whom knowledge had been given said, “Woe to you! the reward of God is better for him who believeth and worketh righteousness, and none shall win it but those who have patiently endured.”

And we clave the earth for him and for his palace, and he had no forces, in the place of God,24 to help him, nor was he among those who are succoured.

And in the morning those who the day before had coveted his lot said, “Aha!  God enlargeth supplies to whom he pleaseth of his servants, or is sparing.  Had not God been gracious to us, He had caused it to cleave for us.  Aha! the ungrateful can never prosper.”

As to this future mansion, we will bestow it on those who seek not to exalt them in the earth or to do wrong:  And there is a happy issue for the God-fearing.

Whoso doeth good shall have reward beyond its merits, and whoso doeth evil, they who do evil shall be rewarded only as they shall have wrought.

He who hath sanctioned the Koran to thee will certainly bring thee to thy home.25 Say:  My Lord best knoweth who hath guidance, and who is in undoubted error.

Thou didst never expect that the Book would be given thee.  Of thy Lord’s mercy only hath it been sent down.  Be not thou helpful then to the unbelievers: 

Neither let them turn thee aside from the signs of God after they have been sent down to thee, but bid men to thy Lord; and be not among those who add gods to God: 

And call not on any other god with God.  There is no god but He!  Everything shall perish except Himself!  Judgment is His, and to Him shall ye return!

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1 See Sura lxviii. 1, p. 32.

2 Lit.  Imâms.

3 Comp. [xci.] ii. 58.

4 That is, This child will be a comfort to us.  See Sura [lviii.] xix. 26.

5 “Why must the nurse be a Hebrew woman? (Ex. ii. 7.) This shews that he refused the breast of all the Egyptian women.  For the Holy, blessed be He, had said, Shall the mouth that is to speak with me suck an unclean thing?” Sotah. xii. 2.