Tafsir of Yunus 10:80

وقال فرعون ايتوني بكل ساحر عليم فلما جاء السحرة قال لهم موسى ألقوا ما أنتم ملقون

And Fir`awn said: "Bring me every well-versed sorcerer.'' And when the sorcerers came, Musa said to them: "Cast down what you want to cast!'' They stood in line after they received the promise of Fir`awn to become closer to him and obtain a generous reward. Musa wanted them to begin. He wanted the people to see what the magicians had made, then he would come with the truth after that to triumph over their falsehood

قالوا يموسى إما أن تلقى وإما أن نكون أول من ألقى

قال بل ألقوا

They said: "O Musa! Either you throw first or we be the first to throw.'' (Musa) said: "Nay, throw you (first)!'' (20:65-66) When the magicians cast their spells they bewitched the eyes of the people through their display of mighty sorcery. At that time,

فٲوجس فى نفسه خيفة موسى

قلنا ﻻ تخف إنك أنت اﻻعلى

وألق ما فى يمينك تلقف ما صنعوا إنما صنعوا كيد ساحر وﻻ يفلح السحر حيث أتى

Musa conceived fear in himself. We (Allah) said: "Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand. And throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they have made is only a magician's trick, and the magician will never be successful, to whatever amount (of skill) he may attain.'' (20:67-69)