When ‘your (former) excellency’ became a beggar

I recall the above story today as premise for yet another story of a former “His Excellency” which was sent to me by a brother through the social media. This former “His Excellency” was a scientist. He was a former this and that. He had occupied almost all political posts and portfolios in his state. […]

I recall the above story today as premise for yet another story of a former “His Excellency” which was sent to me by a brother through the social media. This former “His Excellency” was a scientist. He was a former this and that. He had occupied almost all political posts and portfolios in his state. What remained was for him to become the Chief Executive officer (the CEO) of his home state. Eventually he realized his ambition. He became “Your Excellency”. But hardly did he become the State Governor than he began to question the Almighty; hardly did he become “His Excellency” than he began to posture like Qarun in front of Prophet Musa (a.s) (Quran 28: 76-83). He challenged the Almighty to a fight. 

The story of Qarun is instructive of the fact that the Almighty would not ordinarily bestow his mercy on those who are arrogant; those who consider themselves to be wiser or more knowledgeable than others. To illustrate this further, the Almighty gives us examples from the life and history of those who had come this way before and have all expired. Many civilizations of the past had attained great success and material wealth. But Qarun, known as Korah in the Bible, would not learn. He had become purblind by his wealth and riches. He wanted to disgrace Prophet Musa. He craved to impugn the message of the Almighty by impugning the messenger. Ibn `Abbas says Qarun therefore gave a prostitute a sum of money to accuse Musa (a.s), while in company of his followers that he (Musa) committed adultery with her. It is said that she did it and consequently, Prophet Musa trembled with fear and he performed two Rak`ahs (bowing in prayer) and then said to her: By the Almighty! Tell me, who hired you to do this? She said: It was Qarun who hired me to do that. Then, she sought Almighty’s forgiveness and repented to Him. Prophet Musa then prostrated himself and invoked the anger of the Almighty against Qarun. The Almighty then revealed to him that He had subjugated the earth to obey him. Prophet Musa therefore commanded the earth to swallow Qarun and his dwelling place. The Almighty narrates the story as follows:

Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him, “Do not be arrogant. Indeed, the Almighty does not like the exultant, the arogant; But seek, through that which He has given unto you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as He has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, He does not like corrupters; But Qarun said: “I was only given this because of the knowledge I have.” Did he not know that He the Almighty had destroyed before him generations which were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? … So he came out before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, “Oh, would that we had like what was given to Qarun. Indeed, he is one of great fortune.” But those who had been given knowledge said, “Woe to you! The reward of the Almighty is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient.” And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than the Almighty, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves. (Quran 28: 76-88).

Thus those imbued with discernment would shudder with fear each time they remember how the Almighty dealt with Fir’awn; how He humiliated Qarun and how He chastened the treachery of people of ‘Ad and Thamud. The lesson in the story circulating in the social media of this former “His Excellency” is to the effect that no human being could actually be in power; that the real power is known and belongs to Him, the Almighty. Or how else do you explain the ease with which the powerful become powerless; how might we explain this situation when a former “Your Excellency” has not only ceased being in power but the ‘man’ in him has equally been taken completely away from him. Is it not true that he was once a Chairman of a local government is now a dream he once had; that he was once a “Your Excellency” is an experience he would wonder whether he ever had.

It is my fervent prayers that we make more sense than the sense I found in this stories. These are stories of life and living; of truth. These are stories I have told in “storeys”; and in line with the Quranic standard, in them are notes for us to ponder. The Quran says: “Verily, (there) is in their stories a lesson for men and women (of) understanding… (Quran 12:111).