Surah Ash-Shu'ara: Verses 43–48

Translation and Exegesis (Tafsir)

[43] He said to them, "Throw down what you are going to throw."

It is known that when they gathered, either Moses had to start or they did. They showed humility towards him and put him before themselves, saying: {Either you throw first, or we shall be the first to throw} (20:65). When they humbled themselves to him, he also humbled himself to them and put them before himself, saying: {Throw down what you are going to throw}.

If it is asked: How was it permissible for Moses (peace be upon him) to command the sorcerers to throw down ropes and staffs, which involved sorcery, deception, and disbelief? Commanding such an act is not permissible.

The answer is: There is no doubt that this was not a command in the literal sense. Moses' intention was for them to believe in him and not proceed with what amounted to a contest of power. Once this is established, the imperative form must be interpreted in several ways:

1. It was a conditional command: The meaning is, "Throw down what you are going to throw if you are truthful," similar to the verse: {Then produce a Surah like it, if you are truthful} (2:23).
2. It became permissible because it served as a means to expose the falsehood.
3. It is not a command but a threat: Meaning, "If you do that, we will bring forth what invalidates it." This is like someone saying to an archer, "If you shoot me, I will do such and such," and then the archer draws the arrow and says, "Shoot!" This is a threat from him.
4. Reciprocity of Humility: As we mentioned, since they humbled themselves and put him first, he put them first, hoping that this humility would be a means for them to accept the truth. Indeed, that desired outcome was achieved through the blessing of that humility. This serves as a reminder that humility is appropriate for a Muslim in all circumstances. Since someone like Moses (peace be upon him) did not refrain from humility even with those sorcerers, it is even more incumbent upon us to do so.

[44] So they threw down their ropes and their staffs...

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas that when they threw down their ropes and staffs—which were coated with mercury, and the staffs were hollow and filled with mercury—when they were heated, their movement intensified, making them appear like snakes writhing from every side of the ground. Moses (peace be upon him) feared that. He was told: "Throw what is in your right hand." So he threw his staff, and behold, it was a manifest serpent. It opened its mouth and swallowed everything they had thrown—all their ropes and staffs—until it had eaten everything. Then Moses took his staff, and behold, it was as it was before.

When the sorcerers saw this, they said to Pharaoh: "We used to practice magic upon people. If we overcame them, the ropes and staffs would remain. But if this [serpent] overcomes us, then this is the truth." So they prostrated and believed in the Lord of the worlds.

Know that there is a difference in the narrations regarding the quantity of ropes and staffs; some mention many, and others mention a moderate amount. What the Qur'an indicates is that they were numerous, given that they were gathered from every city, and because the matter had reached such a great magnitude in the eyes of Pharaoh and his people that it is unlikely they would withhold anything that could be gathered of sorcerers.

[45] ...and they said, "By the might of Pharaoh, indeed, we shall be the victors!"

This means they expressed what amounted to a firm conviction that they would be victorious. All of this, once manifested, only strengthened the matter of Moses (peace be upon him).

[46] So Moses threw down his staff, and behold, it swallowed up what they were fabricating.

The meaning of {what they were fabricating} (mā ya'fikūn) is what they were twisting away from its reality through their sorcery and trickery, and what they were falsifying. They made their ropes and staffs appear as if they were moving snakes by deceiving the onlookers, or it refers to their falsehood (ifk). These things were called ifk (falsehood/fabrication) as an exaggeration.

[47] So the sorcerers fell down in prostration.

This means they fell down prostrating because they were at the highest level of knowledge of sorcery. Therefore, when they saw this [event] and witnessed it going beyond the limits of sorcery, they knew it was not magic. This realization was only due to the blessing of their deep knowledge in the science of magic. At that moment, they could not restrain themselves but threw themselves to the ground in prostration, as if they were forcefully cast down.

If it is asked: Who is the actor in "so they fell down prostrating" (fa-ulqiya as-sāḥirūn) if the doer is not explicitly mentioned? The answer is: It was Allah, through the decisive motivations that settled in their hearts, free from any counter-considerations. However, it is better not to posit an explicit actor because ulqiya can mean "they fell" or "they were cast down."

[48] He said, "I believe in the Lord of Moses and Aaron."

This is an explanation ('aṭf bayān) for the Lord of the Worlds, because Pharaoh claimed divinity. They intended to depose him from that claim. The attribution to them in that context means He is the One who called Moses and Aaron (peace be upon them) to Him.

[49] He said, "Do you believe in him before I give you permission? Indeed, he is your leader who taught you magic. So you shall surely know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all."

[50] They said, "No harm! Indeed, to our Lord we are returning.

[51] Indeed, we hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, as we were the first of the believers."