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
قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ۖ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنْ عِندَكُم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍۭ بِهَـٰذَآ ۚ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
They have said, "Allāh has taken a son." Exalted is He; He is the [one] Free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no authority for this [claim]. Do you say about Allāh that which you do not know?
فَذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ إِلَّا ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصْرَفُونَ
For that is Allāh, your Lord, the Truth. And what can be beyond truth except error? So how are you averted?
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.
وَلَقَدْ بَوَّأْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدْقٍ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ فَمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِى بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
And We had certainly settled the Children of Israel in an agreeable settlement and provided them with good things. And they did not differ until [after] knowledge had come to them. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.