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
وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ غَضْبَـٰنَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِئْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُونِى مِنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ أَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ ۖ وَأَلْقَى ٱلْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ ۚ قَالَ ٱبْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱسْتَضْعَفُونِى وَكَادُوا۟ يَقْتُلُونَنِى فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِىَ ٱلْأَعْدَآءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِى مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And when Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "How wretched is that by which you have replaced me after [my departure]. Were you impatient over the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by [the hair of] his head, pulling him toward him. [Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, indeed the people overpowered me and were about to kill me, so let not the enemies rejoice over me and do not place me among the wrongdoing people."
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."
ثُمَّ لَـَٔاتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَـٰكِرِينَ
Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]."
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."