Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Qasas Verse 78

Mufti Taqi Usmani

He said, “This is given to me because of the knowledge (I have) with me.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed, from the generations before him, those who were stronger than him in power and greater than him in multitude? And the sinners have not to be asked about their sins.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

He replied, “I have been granted all this because of some knowledge I have.”[[ Or: “I have been granted all this because I know that Allah knows I deserve it.” ]] Did he not know that Allah had already destroyed some from the generations before him who were far superior to him in power and greater in accumulating ˹wealth˺? There will be no need for the wicked to be asked about their sins.[[ Since their sins are already known to Allah and written in perfect records, they will only be interrogated as a form of punishment.]] 

Ruwwad Translation Center

He said, “I have been given all this because of the knowledge that I have.” Did he not know that Allah destroyed some generations before him who were superior to him in power and greater in accumulating [wealth]? There will be no need for the wicked to be asked about their sins.

A. J. Arberry

He said, 'What I have been given is only because of a knowledge that is in me.' What, did he not know that God bad destroyed before him generations of men stronger than he ill might, and more numerous in multitude? And yet the sinners shall not be questioned concerning their sins.

Abdul Haleem

but he answered, ‘This wealth was given to me on account of the knowledge I possess.’ Did he not know that God had destroyed many generations before him, who had greater power than him and built up greater wealth? The guilty will not be questioned about their sins.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

He said: I have been vouchsafed this only because of the knowledge that is with me. Knew he not that Allah had destroyed before him, of the generations, those who were stronger than he in might and larger in respect of following? And the culprits shall not be questioned of their sins.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He said; "This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed, before him, (whole) generations,- which were superior to him in strength and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected? but the wicked are not called (immediately) to account for their sins.

Abul Ala Maududi

He replied: "All this has been given to me on account of a certain knowledge that I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him those who were stronger in might than he and were more numerous in multitude? The wicked are not asked about their acts of sin.

Ahmed Ali

He said: "This has come to me through my own acumen." Did he not know that God had destroyed many generations before him who possessed far more acumen than he, and more wealth? The sinners will not be asked about their sins.

Ahmed Raza Khan

He said, “I got this only due to a knowledge I have”; and does he not know that before him Allah destroyed the generations who were stronger than him and more in number? And there is no questioning of the guilty regarding their sins.

Ali Quli Qarai

He said, ‘I have indeed been given [all] this because of the knowledge that I have.’ Did he not know that Allah had already destroyed before him some of the generations who were more powerful than him and greater in amassing [wealth]? The guilty will not be questioned about their sins.

Ali Ünal

He said: "All this has been given to me only by virtue of a certain knowledge that I have." Did he not know that God had destroyed among the generations before him men who were greater than him in power, and greater in wealth amassed? In fact, the criminals committed to accumulating sin are not asked about their sins (before they are destroyed so that they can defend themselves).

Amatul Rahman Omar

(Korah) said, `(All) this (wealth) that I have been given is because of the knowledge I possess.´ But did he not know that Allâh had destroyed before him generations of people who were mightier than he and greater in riches and number? And the guilty shall not be questioned about their sins (their sins being self evident).

English Literal

He said: "But/truly I got it on knowledge at me." Did he not know that God had perished/destroyed from before him from the generations/peoples of eras who he is stronger than him power/strength and more gathering/assembling? And the criminals/sinners do not be asked/questioned about their crimes.

Faridul Haque

He said, “I got this only due to a knowledge I have”; and does he not know that before him Allah destroyed the generations who were stronger than him and more in number? And there is no questioning of the guilty regarding their sins.

Hamid S. Aziz

"But seek the abode of the Hereafter through what Allah has given you, and forget not your portion in this world, and do good as Allah has done good to you; and seek not corruption in the earth; verily, Allah loves not corrupters."

Hilali & Khan

He said: "This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess." Did he not know that Allah 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 Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Korah was surely of the people of Moses, but he oppressed them, and We gave him treasures, so much so that his hoards of wealth would weight down a body of strong men. When his people said to him: Exult not; surely Allah loves not the exultant.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

He said: I have been given this only on account of the knowledge I have. Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of the generations those who were mightier in strength than he and greater in assemblage? And the guilty shall not be asked about their faults.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

He said: I have been given it only on account of knowledge I possess. Knew he not that Allah had destroyed already of the generations before him men who were mightier than him in strength and greater in respect of following? The guilty are not questioned of their sins.

Muhammad Sarwar

He said, "I have received this wealth because of my knowledge." Did he not know that God had destroyed many generations that lived before him who were stronger than him in power and people? (There will be no need) to ask the criminals what sins they have committed, (for the angels already know them)

Qaribullah & Darwish

But he replied: 'What was given me is only because of the knowledge I possess' Did he not know that from the generations before him Allah had destroyed a mightier and more numerous in multitude? The sinners shall not be questioned about their sins.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

He said: "This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount they had collected But the criminals will not be questioned of their sins.

Wahiduddin Khan

But he said, "I have been given it only because of the knowledge I possess." Did he not know that God had destroyed before him people who were stronger than he and possessed even greater resources? The guilty are not required to offer explanations of their sins.

Talal Itani

He said, “I was given all this on account of knowledge I possess.” Did he not know that God destroyed many generations before him, who were stronger than he, and possessed greater riches? But the guilty will not be asked about their sins.

Tafsir jalalayn

He said, `In fact I have been given it, that is, [this] wealth, because of knowledge I possess', in other words, in return for it -- he was the most knowledgeable of the Children of Israel in the Torah, after Moses and Aaron. God, exalted be He, says; Does he not know that God had already destroyed before him generations, communities, of men stronger than him in might and greater in the amassing?, of wealth; in other words, he does know this. And God destroys them, and the guilty will not be questioned about their sins, because of God's knowledge of these [sins], and so they will be admitted into the Fire without a reckoning.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah informs us how Qarun responded to the exhortations of his people when they sought to guide him to what is good

Allah tells;

قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عِندِي



He said;"This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess."

meaning, `I have no need of your advice; Allah has only given me this wealth because He knows that I deserve it and because He loves me.'

In other words;`He has given it to me because He knows that I am fit for this.'

This is like the Ayat;

فَإِذَا مَسَّ الاِنسَـنَ ضُرٌّ دَعَانَا ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلْنَـهُ نِعْمَةً مِّنَّا قَالَ إِنَّمَأ أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ

When harm touches man, he calls upon Us; then when We have changed it into a favor from Us, he says;"Only because of knowledge I obtained it." (39;49)

An alternative interpretation of this Ayah says that the meaning is;

"Only because of what Allah knows about me did I obtain this favor."

This is like His saying;

وَلَيِنْ أَذَقْنَـهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا مِن بَعْدِ ضَرَّاءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَـذَا لِى

And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from Us, after some adversity has touched him, he is sure to say;"This is from me." (41;50)

meaning, "I deserved it."

Imam Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam explained this Ayah very well. Concerning the phrase,
قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عِندِي
(He said;"This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.") He said;

"Were it not for the fact that Allah is pleased with me and knows my virtue, He would not have given me this wealth."

And He said;

أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِ مِنَ القُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا

Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount they had collected!

This is what those who have little knowledge say when they see a person whom Allah has granted a lot of wealth; they say that if he did not deserve it, Allah would not have given it to him.

وَلَا يُسْأَلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ



But the criminals will not be questioned of their sins