قَالَ لِلْمَلَإِ حَوْلَهُۥٓ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ 34
Translations
[Pharaoh] said to the eminent ones around him, "Indeed, this is a learned magician.
Transliteration
Qala lilmala'i hawlahu inna hadha lasahirun alim
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh addresses his court regarding Prophet Moses, dismissing him as merely a skilled magician rather than acknowledging his divine message. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Pharaoh deliberately mischaracterized Moses's miracles as sorcery to discredit him before his people and maintain his authority. This ayah illustrates the arrogance and obstinacy of those who reject divine signs out of pride and fear of losing power.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Moses and Pharaoh in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which details the confrontation between the prophet and the Egyptian ruler. The context shows Pharaoh's reaction upon witnessing Moses's miracles—particularly the staff turning into a serpent—and his attempt to rally his court to dismiss these signs as mere magic rather than acknowledge them as proofs of God's power.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The strongest of the strong is the one who controls his anger' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). This relates thematically to Pharaoh's prideful refusal to acknowledge truth despite clear signs, demonstrating how arrogance prevents spiritual understanding.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that those who reject truth often do so not from lack of evidence, but from pride, fear of losing status, or unwillingness to submit. We should examine our own hearts for similar tendencies to dismiss guidance due to ego or worldly interests rather than seeking truth sincerely.