يُرِيدُ أَن يُخْرِجَكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِۦ فَمَاذَا تَأْمُرُونَ 35
Translations
He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic, so what do you advise?"
Transliteration
Yurid an yukhrijkum min ardikum bisihrih fa-maza ta'murun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the words of Pharaoh's advisors (his ministers and magicians) warning him about Musa's threat, saying he wants to expel them from their land through his magic, and asking Pharaoh what he commands them to do. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the Egyptian elite attributed Musa's miracles to sorcery rather than acknowledging divine signs, reflecting their spiritual blindness and stubborn rejection of truth. The question 'what do you command?' reflects their readiness to follow Pharaoh's orders in opposing Musa and his message.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa and Pharaoh in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which details the confrontation between the Prophet Musa and Pharaoh's court in Egypt. The broader context of the surah is warning the pagan Meccans about rejecting the Prophet Muhammad by recounting how previous nations rejected their messengers, with particular emphasis on Pharaoh's arrogance and his people's disbelief despite witnessing clear signs.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this ayah, Sahih Bukhari contains numerous hadith about the Prophet's miracles being attributed to magic by disbelievers, paralleling how Pharaoh's court dismissed Musa's signs. Additionally, hadith on the Day of Judgment warn against those who stubbornly reject clear signs of truth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that those who reject truth often rationalize away clear signs through false explanations and blind allegiance to corrupted leaders. We should examine our own hearts to ensure we don't dismiss guidance through rationalization, and recognize that true leadership inspires moral courage rather than mere obedience.