Az-Zumar (The Groups)

50. Indeed, those before them said it [as well], yet that they had earned [in the world] availed them not.

51. Therefore, the evil [consequences] of that which they earned overtook them and those [Meccan disbelievers] who did wrong shall soon be overtaken by the evil [consequences] of what they had committed and they shall never be able to render Us desperate [to escape from Us].

History is the best testimony that upon Divine Wrath mundane possessions may save man neither in this world nor in the Hereafter.

When God Almighty caused the earth to swallow Qarun (Korah) and his swelling place, he had no group or party to render him assistance against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves¹ .

Verse 50 reads:

“Those before them said it [as well, i.e., they also claimed that their possessions were the fruits of their knowledge and competence], yet that they had earned [in the world] availed them not.”

Vain people like Qarun considered their possessions to be owing to their own competence and had consigned to oblivion the fact that they were due to Divine Bounties; however, history bears testimony to the fact that when God caused the earth to swallow their possessions, there was no one to render them assistance nor their possessions were of any avail to them, as it is mentioned elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an² :

“Therefore, We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah.”

The same fate was in store for the peoples of ‘Ad, Thamud, Sheba, and others.

Verse 51 says:

“The evil [consequences] of that which they earned overtook them.”

They were afflicted with Divine Chastisements, e.g. storm, flood, earthquake, and outcries from the heaven (instantaneous death), and met their dire end.

The blessed Verse further adds that it was not merely their fate, but Meccan polytheists and wrong doers would soon be overtaken by the evil consequences of their vicious deeds and would not be able to escape from Divine Chastisement. Yet, the dire fate embraces all vain wrong doers in all eras unaware of Divine Wrath.

Exegets have considered:

“[they] shall soon be overtaken by the evil [consequences] of what they had committed”

to indicate affliction with mundane or otherworldly torment.

However, taking into account:

“the evil [consequences] of that which they earned overtook them,”

it sounds that the former is more appropriate herein.