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.