وَأُلْقِىَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سَـٰجِدِينَ 120
Translations
And the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allāh].
Transliteration
Wa-alqā as-saḥaratu sājidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when the magicians of Pharaoh, after witnessing the miracle of Prophet Musa's staff transforming into a serpent, immediately prostrated in submission to Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their prostration was an act of sincere belief, as they recognized the divine sign and abandoned their disbelief instantly. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that their immediate submission demonstrates the power of clear evidence to overcome even deeply held falsehood, and their prostration symbolized their complete surrender to the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh and his magicians at the court of Egypt (7:103-126). The broader context describes how Pharaoh challenged Musa to a magical contest, expecting his magicians to overcome him. When they witnessed the miraculous transformation of Musa's staff into a living serpent that consumed their magical ropes and sticks, they recognized it as a divine sign rather than magic, leading to their immediate belief.
Related Hadiths
While no single hadith directly addresses this ayah, Surah Al-A'raf 7:121 continues the narrative: the magicians declared 'We have believed in the Lord of Musa and Harun.' This is referenced in Islamic scholarship alongside discussions of sincere repentance and immediate response to divine truth found in various hadith collections.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that when confronted with undeniable truth, sincere hearts respond immediately by submitting to Allah, regardless of previous attachments to falsehood. It reminds us that clear evidence and divine signs have the power to transform even those deeply entrenched in disbelief, inspiring hope for guidance and redemption.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ ٱلْأُمِّىِّ ٱلَّذِى يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allāh to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allāh and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allāh and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ عَنْهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But the ones who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى سَفَاهَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
[Hūd] said, "O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَـٰكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُن مِّنَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدِينَ
And We have certainly created you, [O mankind], and given you [human] form. Then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was not of those who prostrated.