قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ 123
Translations
Said Pharaoh, "You believed in him before I gave you permission. Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know.
Transliteration
Qala fir'awnu aamantu bihi qabla an aathana lakum inna hatha lamakrun makartumuh fil-madinati litukhrijoo minha ahlaha fasawfa ta'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh accuses the magicians of conspiring together and believing in Musa before his permission, interpreting their conversion as a coordinated plot to overthrow his government and expel him from Egypt. Ibn Kathir notes that Pharaoh's response reveals his paranoia and refusal to acknowledge the miraculous nature of Musa's staff, instead attributing the magicians' belief to earthly conspiracy. This ayah demonstrates Pharaoh's characteristic arrogance and his inability to accept truth when it contradicts his authority.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the narrative of Musa and Pharaoh during the confrontation at Pharaoh's court, where the magicians witnessed the miracle of Musa's staff swallowing their ropes and staffs. The broader context illustrates Pharaoh's progressive rejection of signs and his tyrannical response to those who believe. This is part of the Meccan revelation addressing the obstinacy of disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this ayah, Sahih Bukhari contains hadiths about the story of Musa that contextualize Pharaoh's rejection of truth. The Quran itself (26:49) parallels this incident, noting the magicians' steadfast belief despite Pharaoh's threats.
Themes
Key Lesson
When people reject truth, they often resort to accusations and conspiracy theories rather than acknowledging reality; the believer's conviction in divine truth remains unshaken regardless of worldly consequences or threats from those in power. This teaches us that steadfast faith in Allah supersedes fear of human authority.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُۥ وَلَهُۥ يَسْجُدُونَ ۩
Indeed, those who are near your Lord [i.e., the angels] are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate.
خُذِ ٱلْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.
وَإِن تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ لَا يَسْمَعُوا۟ ۖ وَتَرَىٰهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ
And if you invite them to guidance, they do not hear; and you see them looking at you while they do not see.
وَإِذْ أَنجَيْنَـٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
And [recall, O Children of Israel], when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, [who were] afflicting you with the worst torment - killing your sons and keeping your women alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.