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
فَيَذَرُهَا قَاعًا صَفْصَفًا
And He will leave it [i.e., the earth] a level plain;
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ أَتَتْكَ ءَايَـٰتُنَا فَنَسِيتَهَا ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُنسَىٰ
[Allāh] will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot [i.e., disregarded] them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten."
قَالَ قَدْ أُوتِيتَ سُؤْلَكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ
[Allāh] said, "You have been granted your request, O Moses.
قَالَ فَٱذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّن تُخْلَفَهُۥ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِى ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا ۖ لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ نَسْفًا
[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.