Page 447 - An Index to the Qur'an

today will definitely prosper.’ They said, ‘Musa, down their ropes and staffs and said, ‘By the
will you throw or shall we be the first to throw?’ might of Pharaoh we are the winners.’ But Musa
He said, ‘No, you throw!’ And suddenly their threw down his staff and at once it swallowed up
ropes and staffs appeared to him, by their magic, what they had fabricated. The magicians threw
to be slithering about. Musa experienced in him- themselves down, prostrating. They said, ‘We be-
self a feeling of alarm. We said, ‘Have no fear. lieve in the Lord of all the worlds, the Lord of
You will have the upper hand. Throw down what Musa and Harun.’ He said, ‘Have you believed
is in your right hand. It will swallow up their in him before I authorised you? He is your chief
handiwork. Their handiwork is just a magician’s who taught you magic. But you will soon know!
trick. Magicians do not prosper wherever they I will cut off your alternate hands and feet and I
go.’ The magicians threw themselves down in will crucify every one of you.’ They said, ‘We do
prostration. They said, ‘We believe in the Lord of not care! We are returning to our Lord. We re-
Harun and Musa.’ Pharaoh said, ‘Do you believe main hopeful that our Lord will forgive us our
in him before I have authorised you? He is your mistakes for being the first of the believers.’
chief, the one who taught you magic. I will cut (26:34-51)
off your hands and feet alternately and have you When Our Signs came to them in all their clarity,
crucified on palm trunks. Then you will know for they said, ‘This is downright magic.’ (27:13)
certain which of us has the harsher and longer But when Musa brought them Our Clear Signs
lasting punishment.’ They said, ‘We will never they said, ‘This is nothing but trumped-up magic.
prefer you to the Clear Signs which have come to We never heard anything like this among our
us nor to Him Who brought us into being. earlier forefathers.’ (28:36)
Decide on any judgment you like. Your jurisdic- But when the truth did come to them from Us
tion only covers the life of this world. We have they said, ‘Why has he not been given the same
believed in our Lord so that He may forgive us for as Musa was given?’ But did they not previously
our mistakes and for the magic which you forced reject what Musa was given? They say, ‘Two ma-
us to perform. Allah is better and longer lasting.’ gicians who back each other up.’ And they say,
(20:57-73) ‘We reject both of them.’ (28:48)
Their hearts are distracted. Those who do wrong When Our Clear Signs are recited to them, they
confer together secretly, saying, ‘Is this man any- say, ‘This is nothing but a man who wants to
thing but a human being like yourselves? Do you debar you from what your fathers used to wor-
succumb to magic with your eyes wide open?’ ship.’ They say, ‘This is nothing but an invented
(21:3) lie.’ Those who disbelieve say to the truth when it
He (Pharaoh) said to the High Council round comes to them, ‘This is nothing but downright
about him, ‘This certainly is a skilled magician magic.’ (34:43)
who desires by his magic to expel you from your They say, ‘This is just downright magic.’ (37:15)
land, so what do you recommend?’ They said, They are surprised that a warner should come to
‘Detain him and his brother and send out mar- them from among themselves. The disbelievers
shals to the cities, to bring you all the skilled ma- say, ‘This is a lying magician.’ (38:4)
gicians.’ So the magicians were assembled for a We sent Musa with Our Signs and clear authority
meeting on a specified day. The people were to Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun. But they said, ‘A
asked, ‘Are you all assembled so we can follow lying magician.’ (40:23-24)
the magicians if they are the winners?’ When the But when the truth came to them they said, ‘This
magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, ‘Will we is magic and we reject it.’ (43:30)
be rewarded if we are the winners?’ He said, They said (to Musa), ‘Magician, invoke your Lord
‘Yes, and in that case you will be among those for us by the contract He has made with you and
brought near.’ Musa said to them, ‘Throw what- we shall certainly follow the guidance.’ (43:49)
ever it is you are going to throw!’ They threw When Our Clear Signs are recited to them, those
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