Allah, the Almighty said, {The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a chastisement grievous} (Ash-Shura: 42)

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Allah has inspired to me that you are all to be humble and that no one should exalt himself above another.” 1

It is also reported that, "If a mountain transgresses against the other, Allah will make the one that transgressed it into dust.”2

The Prophet (pbuh) also said, "There is no sin whose owner is more deserving to be tortured by Allah in this world along with punishment in the Hereafter than the one who transgresses against others and severs the relation with one's kin.”3

Allah, the Almighty caused the earth to swallow up Qarun when he transgressed against his people.

Concerning him, Allah the Almighty said, {Qarun was doubtless, of the people of Moses but he acted insolently towards them.} (Al-Qasas: 76)

Allah, the Almighty also said, {Then we caused the earth to swallow up him and his house.................} (Al-Qasas: 81)

Ibn Al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, the scholars are in disagreement about the identification of Qarun's transgression. Ibn 'Abbas said that he designate for the adulteresses a sum of money to charge Moses (pbuh) with this heinous crime. Ad-Dahak said he transgressed by disbelief in Allah, the Almighty. Qatada said he transgressed through exalting himself. Ata' Al- Khurasani said, he transgressed through making his clothes longer than the peoples by a span. And Al-Mawrdi said, he served under the Pharaoh and he transgressed and oppressed the children of Israel.

Concerning Allah's saying" {Then we caused the earth to swallow up him and his house} the scholars said, "When Qarun ordered the adulteresses to charge Moses as previously mentioned, Moses got angry and he supplicated Allah against him. Allah the Almighty revealed to him saying, "I ordered the earth to obey you so order it with whatever you want. Moses said, 'O earth, swallow him,' so it swallowed him until his bed was sunk into the earth. When Qarun saw this he entreated Moses by the kinship. But Moses said, 'O earth, swallow him and it took him until his feet were sunk.' Moses continued to supplicate until Qarun was completely swallowed by the earth. There upon Allah revealed to him, O Moses how harsh you are. By my honor and Glory, if he entreated me, I would respond to him! Ibn 'Abbas said, Allah caused the earth to swallow him up until he reached to the lowest earth.

Samrah Ibn Jundub said, whenever the earth swallowed him he would return back to normal and the process would be repeated. Muqatif said, "When Qarun was destroyed, Banu Israel said, "It is Moses who destroyed him to take his property and his house, so Allah caused the earth to swallow him up after three days; {And he had not (the least little) party to help him against Allah)} i.e., to protect him from Allah, {Nor could he defend himself} i.e. he could not prevent what Allah has revealed him of chastisement.