فَأَجْمِعُوا۟ كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ٱئْتُوا۟ صَفًّا ۚ وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مَنِ ٱسْتَعْلَىٰ 64
Translations
So resolve upon your plan and then come [forward] in line. And he has succeeded today who overcomes."
Transliteration
Fa-ajmi'u kayda-kum thumma i'tu saffa wa-qad aflaha al-yawma mani ista'la
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains the command of Pharaoh's sorcerers to gather their magical schemes and approach Moses in organized ranks, followed by their assertion that whoever prevails today will be successful. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the arrogance and false confidence of those who opposed the truth, while the statement 'whoever overcomes today will be successful' reflects their worldly perspective focused on victory in this life rather than accountability in the hereafter. The sorcerers' collective resolve was ultimately broken when they witnessed the miracle of the staff becoming a serpent, leading many to believe in Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Ta-Ha describing the confrontation between Prophet Moses and Pharaoh's court. The context is the planned magical contest where Pharaoh gathered his best sorcerers to challenge Moses' miracles, demonstrating the theme of truth versus falsehood that permeates Meccan surahs meant to strengthen the Prophet Muhammad's resolve during early opposition.
Related Hadiths
The Qur'an itself (7:121-122) records that when the sorcerers witnessed the miracle, they immediately rejected their previous stance and declared their belief in Allah and Moses, showing how true signs overcome human cunning. This relates to the hadith principle that 'Verily, with hardship comes ease' (94:5-6), as Allah's truth ultimately prevails over deception.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no amount of collective human effort, planning, or worldly power can overcome the truth of Allah's message—a lesson relevant today for those facing opposition to faith, encouraging reliance on Divine support rather than fear of coordinated opposition.
Related Ayahs
وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْـَٔلُكَ رِزْقًا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ
And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness.
وَلَوْ أَنَّآ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهُم بِعَذَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَوْلَآ أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـٰتِكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن نَّذِلَّ وَنَخْزَىٰ
And if We had destroyed them with a punishment before him, they would have said, "Our Lord, why did You not send to us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses [i.e., teachings] before we were humiliated and disgraced?"
مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِتَشْقَىٰٓ
We have not sent down to you the Qur’ān that you be distressed
كُلُوا۟ وَٱرْعَوْا۟ أَنْعَـٰمَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلنُّهَىٰ
Eat [therefrom] and pasture your livestock. Indeed in that are signs for those of intelligence.