قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ 125
Translations
They said, "Indeed, to our Lord we will return.
Transliteration
Qalū innā ilā Rabbinā munqalibūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The magicians of Pharaoh declare their firm conviction that they will ultimately return to their Lord, affirming their belief in the afterlife and divine judgment despite Pharaoh's threats of torture and crucifixion. This statement reflects their sudden transformation from servants of Pharaoh to believers in Allah's oneness, prioritizing their eternal return to God over their worldly fears. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a powerful moment of faith overcoming worldly coercion, demonstrating the magicians' complete submission to Allah after witnessing the truth of Moses' miracles.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Meccan narrative of Surah Al-A'raf describing the confrontation between Prophet Moses and Pharaoh's magicians. After the magicians witnessed Moses' staff transform into a serpent and recognized it as a sign from Allah, they immediately believed and declared their faith, with this statement representing their acceptance of divine accountability despite Pharaoh's threats of severe punishment.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah As-Sajdah 32:15 contains related themes of believers' faith in the return to Allah. The story of the magicians' conversion is also referenced in various hadiths discussing examples of sincere faith (Imam At-Tabari's Tafsir).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith means prioritizing the eternal return to Allah over temporal worldly concerns and threats; it inspires courage in maintaining one's faith regardless of external pressure or consequences.
Related Ayahs
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ أَتَأْتُونَ ٱلْفَـٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [We had sent] Lot when he said to his people, "Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds [i.e., peoples]?
وَأَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا۟ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَـٰرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَغَـٰرِبَهَا ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ ۖ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُۥ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْرِشُونَ
And We caused the people who had been oppressed to inherit the eastern regions of the land and the western ones, which We had blessed. And the good word [i.e., decree] of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured. And We destroyed [all] that Pharaoh and his people were producing and what they had been building.
الٓمٓصٓ
Alif, Lām, Meem, Ṣād.
لَهُم مِّن جَهَنَّمَ مِهَادٌ وَمِن فَوْقِهِمْ غَوَاشٍ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
They will have from Hell a bed and over them coverings [of fire]. And thus do We recompense the wrongdoers.