أعوذ باللّٰه من الشيطان الرجيم
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(Book#911)
[ لَا تَخَفۡ
“Fear not. “]
Sura:20
Sura: Taa-Haa
Ayat: 49-73
www.motaher21.net
20:49
قَالَ فَمَنۡ رَّبُّکُمَا یٰمُوۡسٰی ﴿۴۹﴾
[Pharaoh] said, “So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?”
The Conversation between Musa and Fir`awn
Allah, the Exalted, informs about Fir`awn that he said to Musa, in his rejection of the existence of a Supreme Maker and Creator, Who is the God of everything and his own Lord and Owner:
قَالَ فَمَن رَّبُّكُمَا يَا مُوسَى
(Fir`awn) said:”Who then, O Musa, is the Lord of you two!”
meaning “Who is the one who called you forth and sent you! For verily, I do not know him and I have not given you any god other than myself.”
قَالَ رَبُّنَا الَّذِي أَعْطَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلْقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَى
20:50
قَالَ رَبُّنَا الَّذِیۡۤ اَعۡطٰی کُلَّ شَیۡءٍ خَلۡقَہٗ ثُمَّ ہَدٰی ﴿۵۰﴾
He said, “Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it].”
(Musa) said:”Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright.”
Ali bin Abi Talhah related that Ibn Abbas said,
“He is saying that He created a mate for everything.”
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said,
“He made the man a man, and the donkey a donkey and the sheep a sheep.”
Layth bin Abi Sulaym reported from Mujahid that he said,
“He gave everything its form.”
Ibn Abi Najih said that Mujahid said,
“He fashioned the creation of every moving creature.”
Sa`id bin Jubayr said concerning His statement,
أَعْطَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلْقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَى
((Who) gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright),
“He gave each of His creatures what is suitable for its creation.”
Therefore, He did not give man the form of a wild beast, nor did He give wild beasts the form of the dog. Likewise, the dog’s form is not like the sheep’s. He also gave creature a suitable spouse, and He influenced everything towards that mate. There is no species of creation that is exactly like another species. They are different in their actions, their forms, their sustenance and their mating.
Some of the scholars of Tafsir have said that this statement, “He gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright,” is similar to Allah’s statement,
وَالَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَى
And Who has measured; and then guided. (87:3)
This means He measured out an ordained amount (of sustenance, actions, etc.) and then guided His creatures to it. He wrote the deeds, the appointed times of death and the provisions. Then, the creatures traverse upon that and they are not able to avoid it, nor are they able to abandon it.
In this Ayah Musa is saying that our Lord is the One Who created the creation, measured out its ordainment and compelled the creatures to that which He wanted.
قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ الْقُرُونِ الاْاُولَى
20:51
قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ الۡقُرُوۡنِ الۡاُوۡلٰی ﴿۵۱﴾
[Pharaoh] said, “Then what is the case of the former generations?”
(Fir`awn) said:”What about the generations of old!”
The most correct opinion concerning the meaning of this, is that when Musa informed Fir`awn that his Lord Who sent him is the One Who creates, sustains, ordains and guides, Fir`awn began to argue, using the previous generations as a proof. He was referring to those people of old who did not worship Allah. In other words, “If the matter is as you say, then what happened to those people! They did not worship your Lord. Instead they worshipped other gods besides Him.
20:52
قَالَ عِلۡمُہَا عِنۡدَ رَبِّیۡ فِیۡ کِتٰبٍ ۚ لَا یَضِلُّ رَبِّیۡ وَ لَا یَنۡسَی ﴿۫۵۲﴾
[Moses] said, “The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets.”
قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي فِي كِتَابٍ
(Musa) said:”The knowledge thereof is with my Lord, in a Record.
Musa said to him, in response to this, that if they did not worship Allah, then Allah knows precisely what happened to them and He will give them just recompense for their deeds, as is written in Allah’s Book (of decrees). This Book is called Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz (The Preserved Tablet) and it is the Book of Deeds.
لاَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنسَى
My Lord neither errs nor forgets.
This means that nothing eludes Him and He does not miss anything, whether it is small or great. He does not forget anything and His Most Exalted knowledge is described as encompassing everything. Blessed be He, the Exalted, the Most Holy and free of any imperfections.
The knowledge that creatures have has two deficiencies. The first is that it does not completely encompass anything, and the second is that the creature is prone to forget after knowing. Therefore, Allah has declared Himself above such deficiencies
20:53
الَّذِیۡ جَعَلَ لَکُمُ الۡاَرۡضَ مَہۡدًا وَّ سَلَکَ لَکُمۡ فِیۡہَا سُبُلًا وَّ اَنۡزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً ؕ فَاَخۡرَجۡنَا بِہٖۤ اَزۡوَاجًا مِّنۡ نَّبَاتٍ شَتّٰی ﴿۵۳﴾
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
The Completion of Musa’s Reply to Fir`awn
This is from the completion of Musa’s speech concerning the description of His Lord when Fir`awn asked him about Him.
He (Musa) said,
الَّذِي أَعْطَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلْقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَى
(He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright).
Then, Fir`awn attempted to present some argumentative rebuttal during Musa’s reply. Yet, Musa continued by saying,
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الاَْرْضَ مَهْدًا
Who has made earth for you like a bed;
“He is the One Who made the earth as a bed for you.”
Some recited the word as Mihadan and others recited it as Mahdan, which means `a place of rest that you settle down upon.’
It also may mean `that which you stand upon, sleep upon or travel upon its back.’
وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلً
and has opened ways for you therein.
This means, `He made roads for you to walk upon their shoulders.’
This is just as He, the Exalted, said,
وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجاً سُبُلً لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
And placed therein broad highways for them to pass through, that they may be guided. (21:31)
وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّى
and has sent down water from the sky. And We have brought forth with it various kinds of vegetation.
referring to the various species of plants, such as vegetation and fruits. Some are sour, some are sweet, some are bitter and there are other kinds as well
20:54
کُلُوۡا وَ ارۡعَوۡا اَنۡعَامَکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّاُولِی النُّہٰی ﴿٪۵۴﴾
Eat [therefrom] and pasture your livestock. Indeed, in that are signs for those of intelligence.
كُلُوا وَارْعَوْا أَنْعَامَكُمْ
Eat and pasture your cattle (therein);
meaning, `something that is food for you and a palatable fruit for you, and something that is for your cattle as fodder for them, both green and dry.’
إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَايَاتٍ
Verily, in this are Ayat.
This means proofs, signs and evidences.
لاِّأُوْلِي النُّهَى
for men of understanding.
meaning those who possess correct and upright intelligence realizing that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and there is no true Lord other than Him.
مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَى
20:55
مِنۡہَا خَلَقۡنٰکُمۡ وَ فِیۡہَا نُعِیۡدُکُمۡ وَ مِنۡہَا نُخۡرِجُکُمۡ تَارَۃً اُخۡرٰی ﴿۵۵﴾
From the earth We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time.
Thereof We created you, and into it we shall return you, and from it We shall bring you out once again.
meaning, `the earth is your beginning. For your father, Adam, was created with dirt from the surface of the earth. You also will be returned to the earth. This means that you will become dirt when you die and decay.’
The statement, “And from it We shall bring you out once again,” means,
يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ فَتَسْتَجِيبُونَ بِحَمْدِهِ وَتَظُنُّونَ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً
On the Day when He will call you, and you will answer with His praise and obedience, and you will think that you have stayed (in this world) but a little while! (17:52)
This Ayah is similar to Allah’s statement,
قَالَ فِيهَا تَحْيَوْنَ وَفِيهَا تَمُوتُونَ وَمِنْهَا تُخْرَجُونَ
He said:”Therein you shall live, and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out.” (7:25)
Musa showed Fir`awn all of the Signs but He did not believe
Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَلَقَدْ أَرَيْنَاهُ ايَاتِنَا كُلَّهَا فَكَذَّبَ وَأَبَى
20:56
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرَیۡنٰہُ اٰیٰتِنَا کُلَّہَا فَکَذَّبَ وَ اَبٰی ﴿۵۶﴾
And We certainly showed Pharaoh Our signs – all of them – but he denied and refused.
And indeed We showed him (Fir`awn) all Our Ayat, but he denied and refused.
This means that the proofs, signs and evidences were established against Fir`awn and he saw them with his own eyes, but he still denied and rejected them due to his disbelief, abstinence and transgression.
This is as Allah, the Exalted, says,
وَجَحَدُواْ بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَأ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْماً وَعُلُوّاً
And they belied them wrongfully and arrogantly, though they themselves were convinced thereof. (27:14
20:57
قَالَ اَجِئۡتَنَا لِتُخۡرِجَنَا مِنۡ اَرۡضِنَا بِسِحۡرِکَ یٰمُوۡسٰی ﴿۵۷﴾
He said, “Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses?
Fir`awn describes Musa’s Proofs as being Magic and Their Agreement to hold a Contest
Allah tells,
قَالَ أَجِيْتَنَا لِتُخْرِجَنَا مِنْ أَرْضِنَا بِسِحْرِكَ يَا مُوسَى
فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحْرٍ مِّثْلِهِ فَاجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِدًا لاَّ نُخْلِفُهُ نَحْنُ وَلَا أَنتَ مَكَانًا سُوًى
20:58
فَلَنَاۡتِیَنَّکَ بِسِحۡرٍ مِّثۡلِہٖ فَاجۡعَلۡ بَیۡنَنَا وَ بَیۡنَکَ مَوۡعِدًا لَّا نُخۡلِفُہٗ نَحۡنُ وَ لَاۤ اَنۡتَ مَکَانًا سُوًی ﴿۵۸﴾
Then we will surely bring you magic like it, so make between us and you an appointment, which we will not fail to keep and neither will you, in a place assigned.”
He (Fir`awn) said:”Have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Musa! Then verily, we can produce magic the like thereof; so appoint a meeting between us and you, which neither we nor you shall fail to keep, in an open place where both shall have a just and equal chance.”
Allah, the Exalted, informs of what Fir`awn said to Musa when he showed him the great proof. This great sign to Fir`awn was Musa casting down his stick which became a huge snake, and his pulling his hand out from under his arm while it was glowing white without any illness.
At this, Fir`awn said, “This is magic that you have brought to us to bewitch us and conquer the people, so that they will follow you. Then you will outnumber us.”
Fir`awn then said, “Your plan will not work. We have magic just like yours, so do not let yourself be deceived by that what you are doing.”
فَاجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِدًا
so appoint a meeting between us and you,
Meaning, `a day that we can come together to present some of our magic to confront yours. It will be at a specified place and time.’
With this, Musa said to them
20:59
قَالَ مَوۡعِدُکُمۡ یَوۡمُ الزِّیۡنَۃِ وَ اَنۡ یُّحۡشَرَ النَّاسُ ضُحًی ﴿۵۹﴾
[Moses] said, “Your appointment is on the day of the festival when the people assemble at mid-morning.”
قَالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ الزِّينَةِ
(Musa) said:”Your appointed meeting is the day of the festival,
That was the day of their celebration and their New Year’s festivity. It was a holiday for them when they took vacation from their work and came together for a large gathering.
This day was selected so that all of the people could witness the power of Allah to do whatever He wills. They would see the miracles of the prophets and the futility of magic to contest the supernatural prophetic powers.
This is why Musa said,
وَأَن يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ
and let the people assemble,
meaning all of them.
ضُحًى
when the sun has risen (forenoon).
meaning in the morning, just before noon.
In this way the contest will be most visible, well lit, apparent and obvious in plain view. This is the way of the Prophets. Their work is always clear and apparent. It is never something hidden, or something for sale. This is why he did not say that the meeting should be at night, but rather, it was to be held during the bright part of the day.
Ibn Abbas said,
“The day of their festivity was the day of `Ashura’.”
As-Suddi, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said,
“It was the day of their great celebration.”
Sa`id bin Jubayr said,
“It was the day of their great bazaar.”
These statements are not contradictory.
I say that Allah destroyed Fir`awn and his armies on a day similar to this, just as is confirmed in the Sahih.
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said,
“It was a flat place where all of the people were on the same level, having an equal view of the event. There was nothing there that would obstruct the view so that some people could see what others did not.
20:60
فَتَوَلّٰی فِرۡعَوۡنُ فَجَمَعَ کَیۡدَہٗ ثُمَّ اَتٰی ﴿۶۰﴾
So Pharaoh went away, put together his plan, and then came [to Moses].
The Meeting of the Two Parties, Musa’s Propagation of the Message and the Magicians
Allah informs,
فَتَوَلَّى فِرْعَوْنُ فَجَمَعَ كَيْدَهُ ثُمَّ أَتَى
So Fir`awn withdrew, devised his plot and then came back.
Allah, the Exalted informs that when Fir`awn and Musa agreed to an appointed meeting at a specified place and time, Fir`awn began to gather some magicians from the cities of his kingdom. Every person who had any affiliation with magic at that time was summoned, and magic was very widespread and in demand at that time.
This is as Allah says,
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ايْتُونِى بِكُلِّ سَـحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ
And Fir`awn said:”Bring me every well-versed sorcerer.” (10:79)
Then, the day came. It was the day when all of the people gathered, which was well-known, being the day of the festival.
Fir`awn was there sitting upon his throne surrounded by the elite officials of his kingdom. The subjects were all standing on his right and his left.
Then, Musa came forward leaning upon his stick accompanied by his brother Harun.
The magicians were standing in front of Fir`awn in rows and he was prodding them, inciting them and encouraging them to do their best on this day.
They wanted to please him and he was promising them and inspiring them. They said,
فَلَمَّا جَأءَ السَّحَرَةُ قَالُواْ لِفِرْعَوْنَ أَإِنَّ لَنَا لاّجْراً إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَـلِبِينَ
قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ إِذاً لَّمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners! He (Fir`awn) said:”Yes, and you shall then verily be of those brought near (to myself).” (26:41-42)
20:61
قَالَ لَہُمۡ مُّوۡسٰی وَیۡلَکُمۡ لَا تَفۡتَرُوۡا عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا فَیُسۡحِتَکُمۡ بِعَذَابٍ ۚ وَ قَدۡ خَابَ مَنِ افۡتَرٰی ﴿۶۱﴾
Moses said to the magicians summoned by Pharaoh, “Woe to you! Do not invent a lie against Allah or He will exterminate you with a punishment; and he has failed who invents [such falsehood].”
قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَى وَيْلَكُمْ لَاا تَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا
Musa said to them:”Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah…”
This means, “Do not make an illusion before the people of something that is not real, making it appear as if it were a creature, when it is not really a creature. If you do this, then you would be lying on Allah.”
فَيُسْحِتَكُمْ بِعَذَابٍ
lest He (Allah) should destroy you completely by a torment.
This means, `He will destroy you with a destructive punishment that will not spare anything, or anyone.’
وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرَى
20:62
فَتَنَازَعُوۡۤا اَمۡرَہُمۡ بَیۡنَہُمۡ وَ اَسَرُّوا النَّجۡوٰی ﴿۶۲﴾
So they disputed over their affair among themselves and concealed their private conversation.
فَتَنَازَعُوا أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ
“…And surely, he who invents a lie will fail miserably.” Then they debated one with another what they must do,
It has been said that this means that they argued among themselves. So one of them said, “This is not the speech of a magician, but it is the speech of a Prophet.”
Another said, “No, he is only a magician.”
There are other opinions that have been mentioned about what they discussed. And Allah knows best.
Allah’s statement,
وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجْوَى
and they kept their talk secret.
means, they held secret counsel among themselves about this matter
20:63
قَالُوۡۤا اِنۡ ہٰذٰىنِ لَسٰحِرٰنِ یُرِیۡدٰنِ اَنۡ یُّخۡرِجٰکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَرۡضِکُمۡ بِسِحۡرِہِمَا وَ یَذۡہَبَا بِطَرِیۡقَتِکُمُ الۡمُثۡلٰی ﴿۶۳﴾
They said, “Indeed, these are two magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your most exemplary way.
قَالُوا إِنْ هَذَانِ لَسَاحِرَانِ
They said:”Verily, these are two (Hadhan) magicians…”
This is a way of speaking with some of the Arabs and this Ayah has been recited according to the grammar of their dialect.
There are also others who recite it as, (
إِنِّ هَذَانِ لَسَاحِرَان
) Which carries the same meaning, “Verily, these are two (Hadhayn) magicians.”
This is the popular style of language in Arabic grammar. The grammarians have extensive discussions in reply to the first recitation and its grammatical explanation, but this is not the place for such a discussion.
The main point is that the magicians said among themselves,
“You all know that this man and his brother (Musa and Harun) are two knowledgeable magicians who are quite aware of the skill of magic. They want to defeat you and your people today and conquer the people, causing the masses to follow them. They want to fight against Fir`awn and his armies, and they are seeking victory over him. And their ultimate goal is to expel you from your land.”
يُرِيدَانِ أَن يُخْرِجَاكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِمَا
Their object is to drive you out from your land with magic,
Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ الْمُثْلَى
and to take you away from your exemplary way.
This means, `they want to expose this way (of yours) openly, which is magic.’ For verily, they were considered great because of their magic. They had wealth and sustenance because of this magic. They were actually saying, “If these two (Musa and Harun) are victorious, they will destroy you and expel you from your land. In doing so, they will be the first individuals to do so, and they will be given great power of leadership without you.”
Ibn Abbas mentioned concerning Allah’s statement,
وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ الْمُثْلَى
(and to take you away from your exemplary way),
“This means their kingdom, which they were in, and their livelihood.”
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd said,
“This superior way means that which they were upon.
20:64
فَاَجۡمِعُوۡا کَیۡدَکُمۡ ثُمَّ ائۡتُوۡا صَفًّا ۚ وَ قَدۡ اَفۡلَحَ الۡیَوۡمَ مَنِ اسۡتَعۡلٰی ﴿۶۴﴾
So resolve upon your plan and then come [forward] in line. And he has succeeded today who overcomes.”
فَأَجْمِعُوا كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ايْتُوا صَفًّا
So devise your plot, and assemble in line.
This means, “All of you come together in one row, and throw that which is in your hands at one time in order to dazzle the eyes (of the people) and defeat this man and his brother.”
وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْيَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلَى
And whoever overcomes this day will be indeed successful.
meaning “Between you and us. As for us (the magicians), we have been promised to be given an abundance of power and sovereignty. And in reference to him (Musa), He will gain great leadership.
20:65
قَالُوۡا یٰمُوۡسٰۤی اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ تُلۡقِیَ وَ اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ نَّکُوۡنَ اَوَّلَ مَنۡ اَلۡقٰی ﴿۶۵﴾
They said, “O Moses, either you throw or we will be the first to throw.”
The Competition, Musa’s Victory, and the Magician’s Faith
Allah tells,
قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى
They said:”O Musa!
Allah, the Exalted, informs about the magicians when they met Musa, that they said to Musa,
إِمَّا أَن تُلْقِيَ
“Either you throw first…”
meaning, “you go first.”
وَإِمَّا أَن نَّكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَلْقَى
20:66
قَالَ بَلۡ اَلۡقُوۡا ۚ فَاِذَا حِبَالُہُمۡ وَ عِصِیُّہُمۡ یُخَیَّلُ اِلَیۡہِ مِنۡ سِحۡرِہِمۡ اَنَّہَا تَسۡعٰی ﴿۶۶﴾
He said, “Rather, you throw.” And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes].
قَالَ بَلْ أَلْقُوا
“…or we be the first to throw!”
(Musa) said:”Nay, throw you (first)!”
This means, `you magicians should go first so that we can see what magic you are going to perform and so that the true state of their affair will become obvious to the people.’
فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَى
Then behold! their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast.
In another Ayah it says that when they threw,
وَقَالُواْ بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَونَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَـلِبُونَ
Then said:”By the might of Fir`awn, it is we who will certainly win!” (26:44)
And Allah, the Exalted, says,
سَحَرُواْ أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَأءُو بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ
They bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic. (7:116)
Here, He says in this Surah,
فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَى
Then behold! their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast.
They were a large numbered group and each one of them threw a stick and a rope until the valley became full of snakes piled on top of each other.
Concerning Allah’s statement,
فَأَوْجَسَ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِيفَةً مُّوسَى
20:67
فَاَوۡجَسَ فِیۡ نَفۡسِہٖ خِیۡفَۃً مُّوۡسٰی ﴿۶۷﴾
And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses.
So Musa conceived fear in himself.
This means that he feared for the people that they would be tested and deceived by their magic before he could even have a chance to throw what was in his right hand.
قُلْنَا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الاَْعْلَى
20:68
قُلۡنَا لَا تَخَفۡ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الۡاَعۡلٰی ﴿۶۸﴾
Allah said, “Fear not. Indeed, it is you who are superior.
20:69
وَ اَلۡقِ مَا فِیۡ یَمِیۡنِکَ تَلۡقَفۡ مَا صَنَعُوۡا ؕ اِنَّمَا صَنَعُوۡا کَیۡدُ سٰحِرٍ ؕ وَ لَا یُفۡلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَیۡثُ اَتٰی ﴿۶۹﴾
And throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted. What they have crafted is but the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he is.”
وَأَلْقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا
We (Allah) said:”Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand. And throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made.
Thus, Allah revealed to him at the right moment, to throw what was in his right hand, which was the stick. When he did so, it swallowed what they had made. It became a huge, monstrous creature with legs, a neck, a head and fangs. It went after these ropes and sticks until none of them remained, except that it was devoured and swallowed by this beast.
At the same time, the magicians and all of the people were watching with their own eyes, seeing this amazing event in broad daylight. Thus, the miracle was performed and the evidence was clear. The truth prevailed and the magic was proven to be falsehood.
This is why Allah said,
إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا كَيْدُ سَاحِرٍ وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَى
That which they have made is only a magician’s trick, and the magician will never be successful, to whatever amount (of skill) he may attain.
So when the magicians saw the event and witnessed it with their own eyes, while they were knowledgeable of the various tricks and methods in the sciences of magic, they knew with conviction that what Musa had done was not magic or illusionary tricks. They recognized that it was the truth without any doubt. They knew that no one had any power to do this except for One Who says for a thing “Be,” and it is. Therefore, when this happened, they fell down into prostration to Allah
20:70
فَاُلۡقِیَ السَّحَرَۃُ سُجَّدًا قَالُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِرَبِّ ہٰرُوۡنَ وَ مُوۡسٰی ﴿۷۰﴾
So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, “We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”
فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدًا
So the magicians fell down prostrate.
قَالُوا امَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَارُونَ وَمُوسَى
They said:”We believe in the Lord of Harun and Musa.”
They said, “We believe in the Lord of all that exists, the Lord of Musa and Harun!”
This is why Ibn Abbas and Ubayd binUmayr both said,
“At the beginning of the day they were magicians and at the end of the day they were outstanding witnesses of faith.”
The Number of Magicians
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn Abbas said,
“The magicians were seventy men who were magicians in the morning, but witnesses of faith by the time evening came.”
Ibn Abi Hatim also reported that Al-Awza’i said,
“When the magicians fell down in prostration, Paradise was raised up before them until they were looking at it.”
It is reported from Sa`id bin Jubayr that he said concerning Allah’s statement,
فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدًا
(So the magicians fell down prostrate),
“They saw their places (in Paradise) made clear before them while they were in their prostration.”
Ikrimah and Al-Qasim bin Abi Bizzah both said the same
20:71
قَالَ اٰمَنۡتُمۡ لَہٗ قَبۡلَ اَنۡ اٰذَنَ لَکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَکَبِیۡرُکُمُ الَّذِیۡ عَلَّمَکُمُ السِّحۡرَ ۚ فَلَاُقَطِّعَنَّ اَیۡدِیَکُمۡ وَ اَرۡجُلَکُمۡ مِّنۡ خِلَافٍ وَّ لَاُصَلِّبَنَّکُمۡ فِیۡ جُذُوۡعِ النَّخۡلِ ۫ وَ لَتَعۡلَمُنَّ اَیُّنَاۤ اَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَّ اَبۡقٰی ﴿۷۱﴾
[Pharaoh] said, “You believed him before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring.”
Fir`awn’s turning against the Magicians, His threatening Them and Their Reply
Allah, the Exalted, informs of Fir`awn’s disbelief, obstinance, transgression and haughtiness against the truth in favor of falsehood. When he saw what he saw of the magnificent miracle and the great sign, and he saw those whose help he sought accept faith in the presence of all of the people, and he was absolutely defeated, he began to behave arrogantly and cast accusations. He resorted to using his esteemed honor and might against the magicians. He warned them and threatened them saying,
قَالَ امَنتُمْ لَهُ
(Fir`awn) said:”Believe you in him (Musa),
This means, “Do you have faith in him!”
قَبْلَ أَنْ اذَنَ لَكُمْ
before I give you permission,
meaning, “I have not commanded you to do so, by which you have rebelled against me.”
Then he said a statement that he, the magicians and all creatures knew was a forgery and an utter lie.
إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ
Verily, he is your chief who has taught you magic.
meaning “You all only took your magic from Musa and you have made an agreement with him against me and my subjects, that you would help him be victorious.”
Allah says in another Ayah,
إِنَّ هَـذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُواْ مِنْهَأ أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its people, but you shall come to know. (7:123)
Then he began threatening them. He said to them,
فَلَُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَفٍ وَلَاُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِي جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ
So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date palms,
meaning, “I will certainly make an example of you, I will kill you in a public execution.”
Ibn Abbas said,
“Thus, he was the first person to ever do this (public execution, crucifixion).”
This was reported by Ibn Abi Hatim.
Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَا أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَأَبْقَى
And you shall surely know which of us can give the severe and more lasting torment.
This means, “You say that my people and I are astray and that you (magicians), Musa and his people are following correct guidance, but you will come to know who will be punished and remain punished.”
So when he attacked with this and threatened them, their souls eased them because of their belief in Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. They exclaimed
20:72
قَالُوۡا لَنۡ نُّؤۡثِرَکَ عَلٰی مَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ الۡبَیِّنٰتِ وَ الَّذِیۡ فَطَرَنَا فَاقۡضِ مَاۤ اَنۡتَ قَاضٍ ؕ اِنَّمَا تَقۡضِیۡ ہٰذِہِ الۡحَیٰوۃَ الدُّنۡیَا ﴿ؕ۷۲﴾
They said, “Never will we prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs and [over] He who created us. So decree whatever you are to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life.
قَالُوا لَن نُّوْثِرَكَ عَلَى مَا جَاءنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ
They said:”We prefer you not over what have come to us of the clear signs…”
meaning, “We do not chose you over the guidance and conviction that we have received. ”
وَالَّذِي فَطَرَنَا
and to Him (Allah) Who created us.
It could be that they were swearing, “By He Who has created us.”
It also could be connected in meaning to the clear signs mentioned before it. In this case it would mean,
“We do not prefer you over our Originator and Creator, Who produced us from a beginning that was nothing. He created us from clay (or mud). Therefore, He alone deserves worship and humility and you do not (Fir`awn)!”
فَاقْضِ مَا أَنتَ قَاضٍ
So decree whatever you desire to decree,
“Do whatever you wish and whatever your hands are able to achieve.”
إِنَّمَا تَقْضِي هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا
for you can only decree (regarding) this life of the world.
meaning, “You only have power in this world and it is a world that will come to an end. Verily, we are hoping in the eternal abode.
20:73
اِنَّـاۤ اٰمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِیَغۡفِرَ لَنَا خَطٰیٰنَا وَ مَاۤ اَکۡرَہۡتَنَا عَلَیۡہِ مِنَ السِّحۡرِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ خَیۡرٌ وَّ اَبۡقٰی ﴿۷۳﴾
Indeed, we have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and what you compelled us [to do] of magic. And Allah is better and more enduring.”
إِنَّا امَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَايَانَا
Verily, we have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults,
“Whatever evils that we did.”
It specifically means, `which we were forced to do of magic, in order to oppose the sign of Allah and the miracle of His Prophet.’
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn Abbas said concerning Allah’s statement,
وَمَا أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ
(and the magic to which you compelled us),
“Fir`awn took forty boys from the Children of Israel and commanded that they be taught magic at Al-Farama. He said, `Teach them knowledge that no one in the land knows.”‘
Ibn Abbas then said,
“They were of those who believed in Musa and they were of those who said,
امَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَايَانَا
وَمَا أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ
We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us.”
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said the same.
Allah’s statement,
وَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى
And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your reward, and more lasting.
means, “He is better for us than you.”
وَأَبْقَى
(and more lasting), More lasting in reward than what you promised us and made us aspire to.
It is apparent that Fir`awn (may Allah curse him) was bent upon their punishment, and that what he did to them was a mercy from Allah for them. This is why Ibn Abbas and others of the Salaf said,
“They woke up in that morning as magicians, but they became witnesses of faith by the evening.
For getting Quran app: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ihadis.quran