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
فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلطُّوفَانَ وَٱلْجَرَادَ وَٱلْقُمَّلَ وَٱلضَّفَادِعَ وَٱلدَّمَ ءَايَـٰتٍ مُّفَصَّلَـٰتٍ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ
So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.
قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِۦ وَٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ مِنَ ٱلرِّزْقِ ۚ قُلْ هِىَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا خَالِصَةً يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment of [i.e., from] Allāh which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?" Say, "They are for those who believed during the life of this world, exclusively [for them] on the Day of Resurrection." Thus do We detail the verses for a people who know.
وَجَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبِينَ
And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Indeed for us is a reward if we are the predominant."
أَيُشْرِكُونَ مَا لَا يَخْلُقُ شَيْـًٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ
Do they associate with Him those who create nothing and they are [themselves] created?