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
فَإِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا۟ لَنَا هَـٰذِهِۦ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا۟ بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥٓ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّمَا طَـٰٓئِرُهُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
But when good [i.e., provision] came to them, they said, "This is ours [by right]." And if a bad [condition] struck them, they saw an evil omen in Moses and those with him. Unquestionably, their fortune is with Allāh, but most of them do not know.
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ أَسْمَـٰٓئِهِۦ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And to Allāh belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing.
وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالًا يَعْرِفُونَهُم بِسِيمَىٰهُمْ قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And the companions of the Elevations will call to men [within Hell] whom they recognize by their mark, saying, "Of no avail to you was your gathering and [the fact] that you were arrogant."
وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِىَ بَيْضَآءُ لِلنَّـٰظِرِينَ
And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white [with radiance] for the observers.