Surah Ash-Shu'ara: (49 - 51) He said, "Do you believe in him...

Translation and Exegesis

Know that when they all believed, Pharaoh did not feel secure that people would not say: "These magicians, despite their great number and apparent conviction, only believed because they knew the truth of Moses' (peace be upon him) matter. Therefore, they should follow his path."

Thus, he confused the people and greatly exaggerated the repulsion from Moses (peace be upon him) in several ways:

1. First: His statement: {He said, "Do you believe in him before I give you permission?"} (26:48). This implies that their haste in believing suggests they were already inclined towards him, which casts suspicion upon them. Perhaps they deliberately performed poorly in their magic before him.
2. Second: His statement: {Indeed, he is your chief who taught you magic.} (26:47). This explicitly states what was hinted at previously. His goal is to suggest that they acted in collusion with Moses (peace be upon him) and intentionally performed poorly in magic so that Moses' matter would appear superior. Otherwise, the magicians were capable of doing what Moses did. This is a strong suspicion intended to alienate those who might accept Moses' message.
3. Third: His statement: {So you are going to know.} (26:49). This is an absolute threat and severe warning.
4. Fourth: His statement: {I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all.} (26:49). This is the detailed threat. "Cutting off the hands and feet on opposite sides" means cutting the right hand and the left foot, and crucifixion is well-known. There is no punishment stronger than this in terms of destruction. The verse does not state whether he actually carried this out or not.

Then, they responded to these words in two ways:

The First Response: Their statement: {Indeed, we hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins.} (26:51). Darr (harm) and Dayr (harm) are synonymous. The meaning is not that if this happens, it will not harm them; rather, they referred to what they knew of the Abode of Recompense (the Hereafter).

Know that their saying: {Indeed, we are returning to our Lord} (26:50) contains a noble subtlety: they had reached such a high degree of love for Allah that they desired nothing but reaching His Presence. They did not believe out of desire for reward or fear of punishment; rather, their sole objective was reaching His pleasure and being immersed in the lights of His knowledge. This is the highest station of the truthful ones (Siddiqin).

The Second Response: Their statement: {Indeed, we hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins.} (26:51). This is their indication regarding their previous disbelief, magic, and other sins. The word Tatma' (hope/aspire) in this context can imply certainty, like Abraham's saying: {And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Judgment} (26:82). It can also imply conjecture, as a person does not know what the future holds.

As for the phrase: {that we may be the first of the believers} (26:51), it means: "that we may be the first of the believers among the group present at that gathering," or it could mean specifically among the magicians, or among Pharaoh's subjects, or among the people of their time.

It was also read as (In kunna) with a kasra (i.e., In kunna), which is a conditional particle followed by the result (the main clause), because their being the first believers was a certainty for them. A parallel example is someone saying to another who delays payment: "If I have worked for you, then pay me my due."

Verses 52 - 67

{And We inspired to Moses, "Set out by night with My servants. Indeed, you will be pursued." * Then Pharaoh sent to the cities gatherers. * "Indeed, these are but a small band, * And indeed, they have enraged us, * And indeed, we are all on guard." * So We brought them out from gardens and springs * And treasures and a noble station. * Thus. And We caused them to inherit it [i.e., the land] to the Children of Israel. * So they pursued them at sunrise. * And when the two companies saw each other, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are overtaken!" * He said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."}