Many scholars say that Korah (Qarun) was a cousin of Moses, some saying it was his uncle. He had abundant wealth. So much so that the keys alone could not be carried by strong men. It has been said that "Qarun's treasure keys were made of leather. Each key looked like a finger, and each key unlocked a different storeroom. Whenever he travelled, the keys would be carried on sixty mules with white marks on their foreheads and feet."

The good people in his community advised him sincerely. They told him, "Don't boast about what you own," "Don't be haughty or overly proud of your wealth." Instead, use this wealth and immense blessing given to you by Allah to worship Him. Draw nearer to Him by engaging in righteous actions that will bring you rewards both in this life and in the Hereafter.

Indeed, Korah was from the people of Moses, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. We had granted him such treasures that even their keys would burden a group of strong men. ˹Some of˺ his people advised him, “Do not be prideful! Surely Allah does not like the prideful.28:76

Rather, seek the ˹reward˺ of the Hereafter by means of what Allah has granted you, without forgetting your share of this world. And be good ˹to others˺ as Allah has been good to you. Do not seek to spread corruption in the land, for Allah certainly does not like the corruptors.”28:77

However, Korah was so proud of the wealth he accumulated and his power within society, he immediately rejected their advice. He says that this was given to him as he deserved it/ from his own actions (similar to that which Allah warns us against in 39:49).

He replied, “I have been granted all this because of some knowledge I have.” Did he not know that Allah had already destroyed some from the generations before him who were far superior to him in power and greater in accumulating ˹wealth˺? There will be no need for the wicked to be asked about their sins. 28:78

Korah came out in a big procession, showing off the glitz and glamour of his wealth; in his fine clothes, with his fine horses, servants and all his splendour. People began to look amazed, wishing it could be them.

Then he came out before his people in all his glamour. Those who desired the life of this world wished, “If only we could have something like what Korah has been given. He is truly a man of great fortune!”28:79

Yet, some of the wise among them advised about true wealth (similar to 34:37 and 23:55-56).

But those gifted with knowledge said, “Shame on you! Allah’s reward is far better for those who believe and do good. But none will attain this except the steadfast.”28:80

As he was walking with his procession, Allah made the earth swallow him up - taking with it his house.

We are also told about this in hadith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said "While a man was dragging his lower garment, he was swallowed up and he will remain sinking down into the earth until the Day of Resurrection" [Bukhari 3485, Muslim 2088]. His wealth, group, servants and retinue were of no avail to him; they could not protect him from the wrath and vengeance of Allah. Nor could he help himself or save himself. There was no one to help him, neither himself nor anybody else.

We are told in narrations that Korah was so evil that he forced an indecent lady to speak publicly claiming she can do inappropriate things with him. In shock, Moses enquired why she would lie about such a thing, to which she told him she was paid and forced, and then repented. After this, Moses fell into prostration, asking Allah to curse Korah for his evil tactics. Allah then revealed that the earth will obey Moses in his matter - it then swallowed Korah up.

Then We caused the earth to swallow him up, along with his home. There was no one to help him against Allah, nor could he even help himself.28:81

Korah was particularly evil to Moses. In one narration, we hear that along his procession, Korah said to Moses if he (Moses) was favoured with prophethood and he (Korah) was favoured with wealth, then they should both invoke a curse against each other - taunting and threatening him.

Moses was not scared. He asked him whether he would like to go first. To which Korah said yes and made his curse - nothing happened. When Moses said his prayer, the earth swallowed him up.

The people watching, who were previously dazzled by Korah's wealth, began to be grateful for not being swallowed up also.

And those who had craved his position the previous day began to say, “Ah! It is certainly Allah Who gives abundant or limited provisions to whoever He wills of His servants. Had it not been for the grace of Allah, He could have surely caused the earth to swallow us up! Oh, indeed! The disbelievers will never succeed.”28:82

That ˹eternal˺ Home in the Hereafter We reserve ˹only˺ for those who seek neither tyranny nor corruption on the earth. The ultimate outcome belongs ˹only˺ to the righteous.28:83

We also see another mention of Korah in Surah An Ankabut, as below.

˹We˺ also ˹destroyed˺ Korah, Pharaoh, and Hamân. Indeed, Moses had come to them with clear proofs, but they behaved arrogantly in the land. Yet they could not escape ˹Us˺.29:39

So We seized each ˹people˺ for their sin: against some of them We sent a storm of stones, some were overtaken by a ˹mighty˺ blast, some We caused the earth to swallow, and some We drowned. Allah would not have wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.29:40

Note the exact timing of this incident is not known, hence it is added to the end of this timeline.