Surah Ash-Shu`ara' 26:41
ﱉ ﱊ ﱋ ﱌ ﱍ ﱎ ﱏ ﱐ ﱑ ﱒ ﱓ ﱔ
And when the magicians arrived, they said to Pharaoh, "Is there indeed for us a reward if we are the predominant?"
Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:38-42
Tafsir
Mafatih al-Ghayb
Verse range: 26:38-42
Surah Ash-Shu'ara: (38 - 42) So the magicians were gathered for an appointed time...
There are two issues concerning this:
The First Issue: The appointed day was the Day of Ornament/Festival (Yawm al-Zīnah). Its appointed time was the forenoon (Ḍuḥā), because this is the time Moses (peace be upon him) set for them, as stated in His saying: {Your appointment is the Day of Ornament, and that the people be gathered in the forenoon} (Tā-Hā: 59). The appointed time (Mīqāt) refers to what was set—whether a place or a time—and from this concept comes the appointed times for the state of Iḥrām (in Hajj/Umrah).
The Second Issue: Know that when the people suggested postponing the matter and gathering the magicians so that the falsehood of Moses' (peace be upon him) statement would become apparent upon their arrival, Pharaoh agreed with what they said, becoming blind to what he witnessed. Love for a thing blinds and deafens. So, he gathered the magicians. Then, he wanted that confrontation to take place on one of their festivals so that it would be in the presence of a great multitude of people. Moses (peace be upon him) also sought this so that his proof would become evident to the great masses. This was also from the grace of God Almighty for the manifestation of Moses' affair.
As for His saying: {And it was said to the people, "Will you assemble?"}, it means they were summoned to attend so they could witness what would happen from both sides.
As for His saying: {That we might follow the magicians}, it means, "We hope that victory will be theirs, and then we will follow them." When the magicians came, they began by demanding a reward, either wealth or status. He granted them that and emphasized it with His saying: {And indeed, you will then be of those brought near [to me]}. Since the ultimate desire for them was the bestowal of gifts and elevation of status, he offered both matters.
{Moses said to them, "Throw down what you are going to throw down." *So they threw down their ropes and their staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed, it is we who will be victorious."* *Then Moses threw down his staff, and behold, it swallowed up what they were falsely depicting.* *So the magicians threw down [their magic] in prostration,* *saying, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,* *The Lord of Moses and Aaron."*}