قَالَ أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَلْقَوْا۟ سَحَرُوٓا۟ أَعْيُنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَآءُو بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ 116
Translations
He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.
Transliteration
Qāla alqū, falammā alqaw saharū aʿyuna an-nāsi wastarahbūhum wa-jāʾū bi-siḥrin ʿaẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh commanded his magicians to cast their ropes and staffs, and when they did so, they deceived the people's eyes through their sorcery and frightened them with their illusions and great magic. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse illustrates how the magicians created optical illusions that appeared real to the onlookers, yet were mere tricks without substance—contrasting sharply with the genuine miracle of Moses' staff that would follow. The phrase 'siḥr ʿaẓīm' (great magic) emphasizes the impressive nature of their deception to human perception, not its reality or power against divine truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Moses and Pharaoh in Surah Al-A'raf, a Meccan surah revealed to strengthen the Prophet Muhammad and believers during persecution. The context describes the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh's magicians at the court, demonstrating how truth ultimately prevails over falsehood despite the apparent power of worldly deception.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding magic: 'Whoever goes to a magician and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad' (narrated in various collections including those following the principles of Sahih Muslim). Additionally, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102 discusses how magic is knowledge of falsehood taught by Satan.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that impressive appearances and widespread acceptance do not determine truth; deception, no matter how skillfully executed or popularly accepted, cannot stand against divine reality. For contemporary believers, it warns against being swayed by charismatic falsehood and encourages discernment between authentic spiritual guidance and mere illusion or manipulation.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ ٱلْأُمِّىَّ ٱلَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and prohibits them from what is wrong and makes lawful for them what is good and forbids them from what is evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوْمَهُۥ لِيُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَءَالِهَتَكَ ۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَـٰهِرُونَ
And the eminent among the people of Pharaoh said, "Will you leave Moses and his people to cause corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?" [Pharaoh] said, "We will kill their sons and keep their women alive; and indeed, we are subjugators over them."
قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
[Allāh] said, "Depart from it [i.e., Paradise], reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together."
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And thus do We [explain in] detail the verses, and perhaps they will return.