Guide-to-Sound-Creed-A-Book-on-Muslim-Creed-and-Faith

116 <strong>Guide</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Sound</strong> <strong>Creed</strong>
As for Qartln (Korah) who was given great treasures, but acted boastfully and
insolently <strong>to</strong>wards his fellow men and disregarded the admonition <strong>to</strong> repent of
his sins and acknowledge the graces ofAllah, he said:
'~.. '1 was only given it because ofknowledge 1 have' "
(Qur'an: Al-Qa~a~: 78)
Thus, when he claimed he achieved this wealth through his own intellectuality,
skill and experience, QarUn received the worst end and the most heinous
chastisement; Allah caused the earth <strong>to</strong> swallow him and his house.
It is worth noting that many people nowadays overestimate themselves and
become self-conceited by introducing new inventions without acknowledging
the favors of Allah Who endowed them with such capabilities <strong>to</strong> do so. They
usually speak aloud of their own powers and strengths and, moreover, act in
oppression and transgression against others. Such people are more deserving of
the punishment ofAllah. Such was the case ofthe people of 'Ad who were proud
oftheir own strength, as the Quran provided:
'~for 'Ad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and
said, 'Who is greater than us in strength1' Did they not consider
that Allah Who created them was greater than them in strength1
Butthey were rejecting Our signs. So We sent upon them a screaming
wind during days ofmisfortune <strong>to</strong> make them taste the punishment
ofdisgrace in the worldly life; but the punishment ofthe Hereafter
is more disgracing, and they will not be helped."
(Qur'an: Fussilat: 15-16)
The following hadith provides the s<strong>to</strong>ry ofa group ofpeople who were tested
by Allah when He bes<strong>to</strong>wed on them many graces and favors. However, some of
them rejected <strong>to</strong> acknowledge the favors ofAllah when they attributed such graces
<strong>to</strong> their own personal experience claiming that what they had was inherited from
their forefathers. Others acknowledged the favors of Allah and praised Him, so
Allah was pleased with them.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he heard the
Prophet (PBUH) saying:
"Allah willed <strong>to</strong> test three from among the Children of Israel
(Israelites) who were a leper, a baldheaded man and a blind man.
So, He sent them an angel who came <strong>to</strong> the leper and said, 'What
thing do you like most?' He replied, 'Good color and good skin,
for this may remove from me what make people feel repulsion of