فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰٓ أَلْقُوا۟ مَآ أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ 80
Translations
So when the magicians came, Moses said to them, "Throw down whatever you will throw."
Transliteration
Falammā jāa assāḥaratu qāla lahum Mūsā alqū mā antum mulqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the sorcerers arrived, Musa (Moses) commanded them to cast forth their magical ropes and staffs first, demonstrating confidence in the truth and superiority of the divine miracle. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was a strategic move by Musa to expose the falsehood of their magic through direct comparison with the miraculous transformation of his staff into a serpent. The ayah illustrates Musa's unwavering trust in Allah's power and his wisdom in presenting the truth in a manner that would convince even the most learned practitioners of that era.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh in Surah Yunus, which is a Meccan surah. The context describes the pivotal moment when Pharaoh gathered the greatest sorcerers to counter Musa's signs, setting the stage for the miraculous demonstration of Allah's supremacy over human deception and tricks.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah Taha 65-70 provides the Quranic parallel account of this event with additional details. Hadiths on the virtue of reliance upon Allah (tawakkul) such as those in Jami' at-Tirmidhi are thematically related to Musa's confidence in Allah's support.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to approach truth with absolute confidence and to present evidence wisely, knowing that Allah's signs will ultimately triumph over falsehood. It reminds us that trust in Allah's plan enables us to face opposition calmly and strategically rather than with fear or aggression.
Related Ayahs
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِهَا جَآءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَآءَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ ۙ دَعَوُا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
It is He who enables you to travel on land and sea until, when you are in ships and they sail with them by a good wind and they rejoice therein, there comes a storm wind and the waves come upon them from every place and they expect to be engulfed, they supplicate Allāh, sincere to Him in religion, "If You should save us from this, we will surely be among the thankful."
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allāh, your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember?
قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَلْفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَا وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا ٱلْكِبْرِيَآءُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
They said, "Have you come to us to turn us away from that upon which we found our fathers and so that you two may have grandeur in the land? And we are not believers in you."
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّى رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نُنجِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Then We will save Our messengers and those who have believed. Thus, it is an obligation upon Us that We save the believers.