قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِمَّآ أَن تُلْقِىَ وَإِمَّآ أَن نَّكُونَ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُلْقِينَ 115
Translations
They said, "O Moses, either you throw [your staff], or we will be the ones to throw [first]."
Transliteration
Qaalū yā Mūsā immā an tulqī wa immā an nakūna naḥnu al-mulqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The magicians of Pharaoh propose to Moses (peace be upon him) that either he should cast down his staff first, or they will be the ones to cast down their ropes and staffs. This statement reflects their confidence in their sorcery and their challenge to the miraculous power of Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the magicians were attempting to assert control over the contest, but Allah would ultimately expose the falsity of their magic when Moses's staff consumed their fabrications, demonstrating the superiority of divine truth over human deception.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Moses's confrontation with Pharaoh and his court magicians. The context describes the miraculous contest where Pharaoh gathered the best magicians of Egypt to challenge Moses's signs. This passage is part of the broader Meccan period account meant to strengthen the Prophet Muhammad and believers against opposition, by illustrating how Allah's truth triumphed over falsehood in previous nations.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this ayah, the theme of truth overcoming falsehood relates to: 'The truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is ever bound to vanish' (Quran 17:81). Thematically related is the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's reliance on Allah's support against his adversaries.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that confidence in human abilities and deceptions is ultimately futile against the truth of Allah; those who rely on falsehood, however confident they appear, will be exposed and humiliated, while truth prevails through divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers."
فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ
So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers].
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِى ۙ فَمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
O children of Adam, if there come to you messengers from among you relating to you My verses [i.e., scriptures and laws], then whoever fears Allāh and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.