قَالَ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتُخْرِجَنَا مِنْ أَرْضِنَا بِسِحْرِكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ 57
Translations
He said, "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses?
Transliteration
Qāla ajin'tanā litukhrijnā min arḍinā bisḥirka yā Mūsā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh responds to Moses' call with arrogance and denial, accusing Moses of using sorcery to expel the Egyptians from their land. This statement reveals Pharaoh's stubborn rejection of the divine message and his dismissal of Moses' miracles as mere magic, reflecting the spiritual blindness that prevented him from acknowledging the truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Pharaoh's accusation of sorcery was his standard response to deflect from the clear signs, as acknowledging them would mean surrendering his power and authority.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the Meccan period within Surah Taha, which recounts the dialogue between Moses and Pharaoh. The context here is immediately after Moses and Aaron presented their message to Pharaoh, calling him to monotheism and warning him of divine punishment. Pharaoh's response encapsulates the typical arrogant resistance of disbelievers when confronted with prophetic truth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding those who reject signs: 'The example of one who recites the Qur'an is like a citron whose fragrance is pleasant and taste is good, and the example of one who does not recite the Qur'an is like a date which has no fragrance but has a sweet taste' (Sahih Bukhari 5059). Additionally, the Qur'an states in Surah Al-A'raf (7:132) that when Moses showed Pharaoh clear signs, he said they were sorcery.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that when hearts are sealed by pride and worldly attachment, even the clearest divine signs are dismissed and distorted. For believers, it serves as a reminder to remain humble before God's guidance and to recognize that rejecting truth often stems from ego and the fear of losing worldly status rather than genuine intellectual doubt.
Related Ayahs
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَنْ أَسْرَفَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنۢ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ
And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring.
قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَأَبْقَىٰ
[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him [i.e., Moses] before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring."
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ
Gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of one who purifies himself.
أَنِ ٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلتَّابُوتِ فَٱقْذِفِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ ٱلْيَمُّ بِٱلسَّاحِلِ يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّ لِّى وَعَدُوٌّ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّى وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِىٓ
[Saying], 'Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him.' And I bestowed upon you love from Me that you would be brought up under My eye [i.e., observation and care].