qārūn（或作可拉）是穆萨（Moses）那一族中的人，但他对他们不义。我曾赐给他大量的财宝，其钥匙对一群强壮的人来说也是沉重的负担。他的族人对他说：你不要欢喜自夸，因为真主不喜爱自夸的人。你应当借真主赐予你的财富去追求后世的福善，同时也不要忘记你在今世应得的那一份；你要行善，正如真主善待你一样，不要在地上寻求作恶，因为真主不喜爱作恶的人。他回答说：“我这些财富，只是凭借我所拥有的知识而得来的。”（第76-78节）
Qārūn [or Korah] was one of the people of Moses, but he treated them unjustly. We had granted him such treasures that their very keys would have been too heavy a burden for a band of strong men. His people said to him: Do not exult [in your riches]; for God does not love those who are exultant. Seek instead, by means of what God has granted you, the good of the life to come, without forgetting your rightful share in this world; and do good just as God has done good to you, and do not seek to spread corruption on earth; for God does not love the ones who spread corruption.’ Answered he: ‘I have been given this wealth only by virtue of the knowledge that I have.’ (Verses 76-78)
这个故事一开始便点明了主角卡伦（Qārūn）及其族群“穆萨的族人”，并说明了他对待族人的方式是不公的。故事同时在一开始就告诉我们这种不公的原因，即财富：“我曾赐予他大量财宝，光是其钥匙，对一群壮汉来说也是沉重的负担。”（第76节）随后，故事叙述了相关的事件、言论与反应。
This is how the story begins, naming its main character, Qārūn, and his community, “the people of Moses”, as well as the way he treated his people, which was unjust. It also tells us right at the very start the reason for such injustice, namely wealth: “We had granted him such treasures that their very keys would have been too heavy a burden for a band of strong men.” (Verse 76) It goes on to explain the events, statements and reactions involved.
古兰的人民属于穆萨的族人。真主赐予他丰厚的财富，经文称之为“宝藏”，这个词指被囤积、脱离流通的大量钱财。事实上，仅仅是携带这些宝藏的钥匙，对一群强壮的人来说也是沉重的负担。正因为拥有财富，古兰对待自己的族人不公。经文没有明确说明古兰所施行的不公是何种形式，而是保持其不确定性，以涵盖各种类型的不公。他或许不公正地夺取了他们的土地和财产，这正如那些利用权力和财富剥夺他人权利的人常做的事。他也可能剥夺了他们在其财产中应得的份额。真主已将富人财产中应有的权利赐予穷人，使财富不致只在富人之间流转，而周围的穷人却极度贫困。当这种情况出现时，腐败便显现出来。古兰也可能犯下了其他形式的不公。
Qārūn belonged to Moses’ people. God had given him abundant wealth, described in the sūrah as “treasures”, a term that signifies a hoarded surplus of money which is taken out of circulation. Indeed the mere carrying of the keys to these treasures represented a heavy burden even for a band of strong men. It was because of his wealth that Qārūn treated his people unjustly. The sūrah does not specify the form of injustice dealt out by Qārūn, leaving it indefinite so as to include all types of injustice. He might have taken their land and property unfairly, as is often done by those who use power and wealth to deprive others of their rights. He might also have deprived them of their fair share in his property. God has given the poor their rightful share in the property of the rich, so that wealth does not circulate exclusively among the rich while all around them the poor are in desperate need. When this happens, corruption becomes manifest. Qārūn might equally have been guilty of other forms of injustice.
然而，他的族人中有些人试图阻止这种不义行为，劝告他坚持那条能赢得真主喜悦的道路。这样，他便可以享用自己的财富，并在适度与合理的范围内享受它所带来的种种乐趣。更重要的是，这条道路要求富有的人在其一切行为中都心怀对真主的敬畏，因为正是祂赐予了他们所拥有的一切。他们也必须在审判日交代自己的所作所为："他的族人对他说：'你不要骄傲自大，因为真主不喜爱骄傲自大的人。你要借真主所赐予你的，去追求后世的福利，同时不要忘记你在今世应得的那一份；你要行善，正如真主善待你一样；你不要在大地上寻求作恶，因为真主不喜爱作恶的人。'"（第76至77节）这段经文概括了神圣生活方式的价值与特征，并使之有别于其他一切生活方式。
However, some in his community tried to stop such injustice, counselling him to maintain the path that earns God’s pleasure. Thus, he would be able to enjoy his wealth and partake of the pleasures it provides, but in moderation and within reason. More importantly, this path requires wealthy people to watch God in all their actions, for it is He who granted them all they have. They too will have to account for their deeds on the Day of Judgement: “His people said to him: Do not exult (in your riches]; for God does not love those who are exultant. Seek instead, by means of what God has granted you, the good of the life to come, without forgetting your rightful share in this world; and do good just as God has done good to you, and do not seek to spread corruption on earth; for God does not love the ones who spread corruption.” (Verses 76-77) This outlines the values and features that sum up the divine way of life and distinguish it from all other ways.
"不要自夸"——不要因财富而洋洋得意，以致忘记赐予你这份恩典的主。不要忽视应有的感恩。不要把金钱视为极度喜悦的对象，以致对待他人时变得傲慢无礼、骄矜自大。"真主不喜爱那些自负的人。"（第76节）他的同族提醒他想到真主，以及真主不喜爱那些沉迷财富、炫耀傲慢、并借财富之力羞辱他人的人这一事实。
“Do not exult” in your riches nor be so proud of them as to forget the One who has granted you this blessing. Do not neglect to give due thanks. Do not treat your money as an object of extreme delight so that you become insolent and arrogant in your treatment of other people. “For God does not love those who are exultant.” (Verse 76) His compatriots remind him of God and the fact that He does not love those who are infatuated with wealth, showing arrogance and using its power to humiliate others.
“要借着真主所赐予你的，去追求后世的善果，同时也不要忘记你在今世应得的那一份。”（第77节）这里体现了真主之道所特有的那种中正平衡。它使富人既期望后世，希望在审判日成为成功者之列，又不至于剥夺他在今生应享的福乐。事实上，真主的制度还把这一点当作一种责任来要求他，使他不致舍弃今世的享受，也不致轻视今世的生活。
“Seek instead, by means of what God has granted you, the good of the life to come, without forgetting your rightful share in this world.” (Verse 77) Here we see the right balance that is characteristic of the divine way of life. It makes the wealthy look forward to the life to come hoping to be among the successful on the Day of Judgement, without depriving him of his share of enjoyment in the present life. In fact, the divine system urges him to do so as a duty, so that he does not discard life’s pleasures and look down upon the life of this world.
真主创造了今世的享乐与奢华,使人们可以享用自己的那一份,并为获得这些而努力。如此,人类的生活便走上了进步之路,人也完成了真主在地上赋予他的使命。唯一的前提是:在享受这些乐趣时,他们应当追求后世的回报。这样,富有的人既不会偏离通往天堂的道路,也不会因财富而疏忽自己的责任。当他们追求后世时,对享乐的享用便成为对真主的感恩,以及对真主恩典的恰当接纳。如此,这又反过来成为获得更多回报的途径。真主的生活之道使人的生活达致和谐与平衡。它使人能够在精神上不断进步,而不至于遭受匮乏,也不至于浪费自然资源。
God has created the pleasures and luxuries of this life so that people may enjoy their share of these, and work towards obtaining them. Thus human life is set on the way to progress and man fulfils the task God has assigned him on earth. The only proviso is that in such enjoyment of pleasures they should seek the reward of the hereafter. Thus, the wealthy neither deviate from the road leading to heaven, nor neglect their duties as a result of their riches. When they seek the hereafter, their enjoyment of pleasure becomes a form of gratitude to God and proper acceptance of His blessings. Thus it is, in turn, a way to earn more reward. The divine way of life achieves harmony and balance in human life. It enables man to progress spiritually without suffering deprivation or wasting natural resources.
“你要像真主施恩于你那样行善。”（第77节）你所拥有的钱财，是真主出于仁慈赐予你的恩典。因此，应当心怀感激地接受它，将它用于善举，并善待他人。
“Do good just as God has done good to you.” (Verse 77) The money you have is a gift God has granted you out of his kindness. Hence, it should be received with gratitude and used for good purposes, and doing kindness to other people.
“不要在地上寻求散布腐败。”（第77节）腐败有多种形式，包括不公正、沉溺于享乐、不顾真主的引导和后世、做引起嫉妒与仇恨的事、浪费钱财，以及阻止钱财得到其正当的使用。“因为真主不喜爱散布腐败的人”，正如祂不喜爱那些骄傲自大的人一样。
“Do not seek to spread corruption on earth.” (Verse 77) Corruption takes many forms including injustice, indulgence in pleasure, paying no heed to God’s guidance or to the hereafter, doing what causes envy and hatred, spending money wastefully and blocking its proper use. “For God does not love the ones who spread corruption,” in the same way as He does not love those who are exultant.
这是他的族人给予卡伦的诚恳劝告。然而，他的回答在一句话中便包含了腐败的全部含义：“他说：我得到这些财富，只是凭借我所拥有的知识。”（第78节）我获得了这些财富，并且是凭借我所拥有的知识积累起来的；这全都是我自己努力的结果。那么，你们凭什么要教我如何使用属于我私人的财产呢？
Such was the honest advice given to Qārūn by his people. Yet in one sentence his reply carried every meaning of corruption: “Answered he: I have been given this wealth only by virtue of the knowledge that I have.” (Verse 78) I have got this wealth and amassed it through the knowledge I have; all by my own endeavour. So, why are you trying to tell me how to use what is my private property?
这是一种人的态度：他选择忽视自己所得恩惠的来源，被财富蒙蔽了双眼。这样的人随处可见，在每个社会中都有。许多富人认为，是自己的知识和努力使他们积累了财富，因此，对于他如何使用财富、花费在什么地方、用于善举还是恶行，都不应受到质问。他从未想到真主，也从未想到要求取祂的喜悦。
This is the attitude of one who chooses to be oblivious to the source of the blessings he has been given. He has been blinded by his wealth. Such people are common, seen in all societies. Many a rich person believes that his knowledge and effort are the only means by which he has amassed his wealth. Hence, he is not to be questioned about the way he uses his wealth, what he spends or for what purpose, whether it be for good or foul. No thought does he entertain of God or earning His pleasure.
伊斯兰教承认私有财产，并重视人们在这方面的努力，前提是他们的行为始终在合法的范围之内。伊斯兰教并不轻视个人努力的重要性，同时，正如它规定了获取财富时必须遵守的规则和方法一样，它也规定了花费钱财的特定方式。
Islam accepts private ownership and appreciates people’s efforts in this regard, provided that they remain within the realm of what is permissible. While it does not belittle the importance of private effort, it stipulates a certain method of spending money just like it stipulates rules and methods that must be observed in acquiring it.
其制度兼顾平衡与中道。它不剥夺任何人从其事业中所获的成果，但同时既不允许无节制的放纵，也不认可吝啬的囤积。它要求将此类财富中应归于社会的份额交付给社群，并赋予社群监督和审视财富获取、投资、花费与享用方式的权利。
Its system combines balance and moderation. It does not deprive anyone of the fruits of their enterprise, but at the same time it does not approve either unrestricted indulgence or miserly hoarding. It gives the community its dues in such wealth, as well as the right to watch and monitor the methods of obtaining, investing, spending and enjoying wealth.
可是，古伦不听从他的族人，也不珍惜主所赐予他的恩典。他不遵循神圣的道路，反而傲慢地背离了。因此，针对他的悖逆与骄狂，有一番警告降临到他身上："他难道不知道，在他之前，真主已经毁灭了许多世代，那些世代比他更强大，财富也比他更多吗？犯罪者不会被询问他们的罪行。"（第78节）如果他自认为强大而富有，那么真主过去已经毁灭了比他更强大、更富有的民族。他本应知道这一点，因为正是这样的认识使人免于毁灭。那么，让他知道吧：他和所有像他一样的罪人，在真主看来一文不值。他们甚至不值得被询问罪行。他们既不是裁判，也不是见证人："犯罪者不会被询问他们的罪行。"（第78节）
Qārūn, however, did not listen to his people, nor did he appreciate the blessings granted by his Lord. He did not abide by the divine method, but instead turned away arrogantly. Therefore, a warning was issued to him for his insolence and arrogance: “Did he not know that God had destroyed many a generation that preceded him, and who were far more powerful and greater in wealth than he? The guilty are not questioned about their sins.” (Verse 78) If he believed himself to be powerful and rich, God had in the past destroyed communities that were far more powerful and wealthy. He should have known this, because it is such knowledge that saves man from destruction. Let him know, then, that he and all guilty people like him are worth nothing in God’s sight. They are not even worth questioning about their sins. They are neither the arbiters nor the witnesses: “The guilty are not questioned about their sins.” (Verse 78)