A Comparative Analysis of Qārūn's Story in the Qur an and the Bible

As the symbol of wealth, arrogance, and rebellion, Qārūn has been referred to in three chapters of the Holy Qura’n: Sūrah al-Qasas (The Stories), Sūrah al-Ankabūt (The Spider), and Sūrah al-Ghāfir (The Forgiver). In Sūrah al-Ankabūt and Sūrah al-Ghāfir, just a single verse is dedicated to Qārūn’s story while seven verses of Sūrah al-Qasas recite his unlimited wealth, arrogance, and eventual death. According to the Qur’an, Qārūn was of Moses’s people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. He was very wealthy and believed his wealth was just the result of his competency and merit. His people benevolently advised him, and also God reminded him, and all those who were like Qārūn, that men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount of the riches were all destructed. Yet, he again rejected to donate his wealth and began to show off while the worldly-minded wished they had been in his place. Then, God’s torment descended, and Qārūn and his house were devoured by the earth. The Bible, like the Qur’an, describes his fate in chpater 16 of the Book of Numbers under the Hebrew name of “Korah bin Izhar bin Kohath bin Levi”: Korah was a cousin to Moses, but he was jealous of Moses and Aaron and rebelled against Moses in collaboration with Dathan, Abiram, On, and 250 princes of Bani Israel. After that earth opened mouth and devoured Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Afterwards, a fire came from God and burnt his remaining companions. In this study, the two texts are compared and contrasted to pave the ground for greater understanding and empathy between the followers of the two holy religions.