قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عِنْدِي أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا وَلَا يُسْأَلُ عَنْ ذُنُوبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴿۷۸﴾ فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ فِي زِينَتِهِ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا يَا لَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ قَارُونُ إِنَّهُ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ ﴿۷۹﴾

﴾78﴿ Qaala innamaaa ootee tuhoo 'alaa 'ilmin 'indeee; awalam ya'lam annal laaha qad ahlaka min qablihee minal qurooni man huwa ashaddu minhu quwwatanw wa aksaru jam'aa; wa laa yus'alu 'an zunoobihimul mujrimoon
﴾79﴿ Fakharaja 'alaa qawmihee fee zeenatih; qaalal lazeena yureedoonal hayaatad dunyaa yaalaita lanaa misla maaa ootiya Qaaroonu innahoo lazoo hazzin 'azeem

﴾78﴿ He said, I have been given this only because of the knowledge I possess. Does he not know that indeed Allah has destroyed before him generations who were mightier in strength and greater in number, And the criminals are not asked about their sins
﴾79﴿ Then he emerged before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, Oh, if only we had what Korah has been given! Indeed, he is the possessor of a great fortune

[78] This part mentions Qarun’s rebellion (بَغْي) in the form of denying Allah’s blessings. The advice given to him had no effect, and instead of acknowledging phrases like "آتَاكَ اللَّهُ" (what Allah has given you) and "أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ" (as Allah has done good to you), he denied that his wealth was from Allah. He claimed, “I acquired this wealth through my own skill and business,” i.e., not from Allah.
"عَلَى عِلْمٍ عِنْدِي" – refers to his expertise and trade, and a similar statement is found in Surah Az-Zumar (39:49), where a distinction is made.
"أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ" – indicates that when divine punishment (worldly or in the Hereafter) comes, the sinner is not questioned, so they don’t attempt to present excuses—because excuses are not accepted at that point, and therefore there is no need to ask.
Benefit: In Surah Al-A‘raf (7:6) and Surah Al-Hijr (15:92), questioning is mentioned, while in this verse and Surah Ar-Rahman (55:39), no questioning is mentioned.
Reconciliations (تطبیقات): 1. From the sin itself, no questioning is done; but regarding the cause or manner of the sin, they may be questioned.
2. Questioning is done for rebuke and reproach, not to gain knowledge, because Allah is already All-Knowing.
3. Before the punishment, during reckoning, questioning happens; but at the time of punishment, no questioning is done to prevent excuses.
4. “Al-Mujrimūn” (the criminals) in one verse may refer to one group, while in another, it refers to a different type of criminals. Thus, questioning is not for all types in the same way.
[79] In this verse, another form of rebellion (بغاوت) is mentioned: Qarun practically displayed his arrogance, similar to how today some kings celebrate their own festivals with pomp, or how certain spiritual leaders (pīrs) hold grand gatherings (ʿurs) during their lifetimes, showing off their splendor and adornments.
"قَالَ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا" – Though these people may have been Muslims, they were worldly and ignorant, and they expressed their desire for Qarun’s status. They said he was a man of great fortune—just as ignorant people today admire the lifestyle of the rich and elite, praise them, and wish to be like them.