فَأُلْقِىَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سَـٰجِدِينَ 46
Translations
So the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allāh].
Transliteration
Fa-ulqiya as-saharatu sajideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
The magicians fell down in prostration immediately upon witnessing the miracle of the staff of Musa (Moses) transforming into a serpent, which consumed their enchantments. This sudden prostration represents their instant recognition of the truth and divine power, as they abandoned their disbelief and false craft. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this moment marked their sincere conversion to belief in Allah, demonstrating that even those steeped in deception can recognize authentic divine signs when confronted with undeniable truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh's magicians, a story emphasized throughout Surah Ash-Shu'ara. The context depicts the climactic moment when Musa threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his court, and the magicians' immediate recognition of this as a sign from Allah rather than mere sorcery, leading to their conversion and submission to Allah.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly narrates this specific moment, Surah Al-A'raf (7:120-121) provides the Quranic account of the same event with additional detail: 'Said the magicians, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Musa."' This demonstrates the consistency of this narrative across the Quran and highlights the magicians' sincere faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that truth has an undeniable power that can penetrate even the hardest hearts when presented with clear evidence, and that sincere submission to Allah transcends all prior attachments to falsehood. It reminds us that witnessing divine signs should lead us to immediate and humble surrender, abandoning pride and false beliefs.