Pharaoh's Magicians
They said, “Delay him and his brother, and send gatherers to the cities
7:111They said (unto Pharaoh): Put him off (a while) - him and his brother - and send into the cities summoners,
26:36They said: Put him off, (him) and his brother, and send into the cities summoners
To bring every skilled magician to you.”
7:112To bring each knowing wizard unto thee.
10:79And Pharaoh said: Bring every cunning wizard unto me.
26:37Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard.
“Then we will bring magic like yours. Set a time for us, neither you nor we shall fail.”
20:58But we surely can produce for thee magic the like thereof; so appoint a tryst between us and you, which neither we nor thou shall fail to keep, at a place convenient (to us both).
Moses said, “Your appointed time is the day of the festival, when people gather in the morning.”
20:59(Moses) said: Your tryst shall be the day of the feast, and let the people assemble when the sun hath risen high.
Pharaoh withdrew, devised his scheme, then returned.
20:60Then Pharaoh went and gathered his strength, then came (to the appointed tryst).
To bring you every experienced magician.”
26:37Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard.
So, the magicians were gathered for the appointed day.
26:38So the wizards were gathered together at a set time on a day appointed.
The magicians came to Pharaoh and said, “Shall we have a reward if we prevail?”
7:113And the wizards came to Pharaoh, saying: Surely there will be a reward for us if we are victors.
26:41And when the wizards came they said unto Pharaoh: Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners?
He said, “Yes, and you will be among my closest advisors.”
7:114He answered: Yes, and surely ye shall be of those brought near (to me).
26:42He said: Aye, and ye will then surely be of those brought near (to me).
Moses said to them, “Woe to you! Do not fabricate lies against Allah, or He will destroy you with punishment. Whoever invents falsehoods will fail.”
20:61Moses said unto them: Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He extirpate you by some punishment. He who lieth faileth miserably.
They debated among themselves, whispering in secret.
20:62Then they debated one with another what they must do, and they kept their counsel secret.
They said, “These two are magicians who seek to drive you from your land and abolish your traditions.”
20:63They said: Lo! these are two wizards who would drive you out from your country by their magic, and destroy your best traditions;
26:35Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye?
“So, gather your strength and come forward in ranks. Whoever prevails today will succeed.”
20:64So arrange your plan, and come in battle line. Whoso is uppermost this day will be indeed successful.
They said, “O Moses, will you cast first, or shall we?”
7:115They said: O Moses! Either throw (first) or let us be the first throwers?
10:80And when the wizards came, Moses said unto them: Cast your cast!
20:65They said: O Moses! Either throw first, or let us be the first to throw?
He said, “You cast.” So, when they cast, they bewitched the people’s eyes and struck fear into them, performing great magic.
7:116He said: Throw! And when they threw they cast a spell upon the people's eyes, and overawed them, and produced a mighty spell.
20:66He said: Nay, do ye throw! Then lo! their cords and their staves, by their magic, appeared to him as though they ran.
26:43Moses said unto them: Throw what ye are going to throw!
26:44Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh's might, lo! we verily are the winners.
Moses felt a moment of fear within himself.
20:67And Moses conceived a fear in his mind.
We said, “Do not be afraid. You will prevail.”
20:68We said: Fear not! Lo! thou art the higher.
When they threw their ropes and staffs, Moses declared, “What you have done is mere illusion; Allah will nullify it. He does not support the work of the corrupt.”
10:81And when they had cast, Moses said: That which ye have brought is magic. Lo! Allah will make it vain. Lo! Allah upholdeth not the work of mischief-makers.
Allah establishes the truth by His words, even if the guilty dislike it.
10:82And Allah will vindicate the Truth by His words, however much the guilty be averse.
Then, We inspired Moses, “Throw your staff,” and it swallowed what they had faked.
7:117And We inspired Moses (saying): Throw thy staff! And lo! it swallowed up their lying show.
20:69Throw that which is in thy right hand! It will eat up that which they have made. Lo! that which they have made is but a wizard's artifice, and a wizard shall not be successful to whatever point (of skill) he may attain.
26:45Then Moses threw his staff and lo! it swallowed that which they did falsely show.
So, the truth was established, and their illusions were proven false.
7:118Thus was the Truth vindicated and that which they were doing was made vain.
There and then, they were defeated and humiliated.
7:119Thus were they there defeated and brought low.
But none believed in Moses except a few from his people, fearing Pharaoh and his chiefs would persecute them. Pharaoh was a tyrant in the land, one who exceeded all bounds.
10:83But none trusted Moses, save some scions of his people, (and they were) in fear of Pharaoh and their chiefs, that he would persecute them. Lo! Pharaoh was verily a tyrant in the land, and lo! he verily was of the wanton.
11:97Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they did follow the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was no right guide.
85:17Hath there come unto thee the story of the hosts
85:18Of Pharaoh and (the tribe of) Thamud?
85:19Nay, but those who disbelieve live in denial
He will lead his people into the Fire on the Day of Judgment, what a miserable destination!
11:98He will go before his people on the Day of Resurrection and will lead them to the Fire for watering-place. Ah, hapless is the watering-place (whither they are) led.
The magicians fell in prostration, saying, “We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”
7:120And the wizards fell down prostrate,
7:121Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,
7:122The Lord of Moses and Aaron.
20:70Then the wizards were (all) flung down prostrate, crying: We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.
26:46And the wizards were flung prostrate,
26:47Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,
26:48The Lord of Moses and Aaron.
Pharaoh said, “Have you believed in him before I gave permission? He must be your master who taught you magic! I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and crucify you on palm trunks. Then you will know whose punishment is more severe and lasting.”
7:123Pharaoh said: Ye believe in Him before I give you leave! Lo! this is the plot that ye have plotted in the city that ye may drive its people hence. But ye shall come to know!
7:124Surely I shall have your hands and feet cut off upon alternate sides. Then I shall crucify you every one.
20:71(Pharaoh) said: Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he is your chief who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment.
26:49(Pharaoh) said: Ye put your faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he doubtless is your chief who taught you magic! But verily ye shall come to know. Verily I will cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and verily I will crucify you every one.
They said, “We will never prefer you over the clear signs we have received and over the One who created us. So, decree whatever you will, your judgment applies only in this life.”
20:72They said: We choose thee not above the clear proofs that have come unto us, and above Him Who created us. So decree what thou wilt decree. Thou wilt end for us only this life of the world.
“We believe in our Lord, so He may forgive our sins and the magic you forced us to perform. Allah is better and everlasting.”
20:73Lo! we believe in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins and the magic unto which thou didst force us. Allah is better and more lasting.
“Whoever comes to his Lord as a sinner will have Hell, where he will neither live nor die.”
20:74Lo! whoso cometh guilty unto his Lord, verily for him is hell. There he will neither die nor live.
They said, “No harm! We will return to our Lord.”
7:125They said: Lo! We are about to return unto our Lord!
26:50They said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return.
“We hope our Lord will forgive our sins, for we are the first to believe.”
26:51Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first of the believers.
You only seek revenge because we believed in our Lord’s signs when they came to us. Our Lord, grant us patience and take our souls in submission.”
7:126Thou takest vengeance on us only forasmuch as we believed the tokens of our Lord when they came unto us. Our Lord! Vouchsafe unto us steadfastness and make us die as men who have surrendered (unto Thee).