Allah, the Exalted, informs of what Fir`awn said to Musa when he showed him
the great proof. This great sign to Fir`awn was Musa casting down his stick
which became a huge snake, and his pulling his hand out from under his arm while
it was glowing white without any illness. At this, Fir`awn said, "This is magic
that you have brought to us to bewitch us and conquer the people, so that they
will follow you. Then you will outnumber us.'' Fir`awn then said, "Your plan
will not work. We have magic just like yours, so do not let yourself be deceived
by that what you are doing.''
[فَاجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا
وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِداً]
(so appoint a meeting between us and you,) Meaning, `a day that we can come
together to present some of our magic to confront yours. It will be at a
specified place and time.' With this, Musa said to them,
[مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ
الزِّينَةِ]
(Your appointed meeting is the day of festival,) That was the day of their
celebration and their New Year's festivity. It was a holiday for them when they
took vacation from their work and came together for a large gathering. This day
was selected so that all of the people could witness the power of Allah to do
whatever He wills. They would see the miracles of the prophets and the futility
of magic to contest the supernatural prophetic powers. This is why Musa said,
[وَأَن يُحْشَرَ
النَّاسُ]
(and let the people assemble) meaning all of them.
[ضُحًى]
(when the sun has risen (forenoon).) meaning in the morning, just before
noon. In this way the contest will be most visible, well lit, apparent and
obvious in plain view. This is the way of the Prophets. Their work is always
clear and apparent. It is never something hidden, or something for sale. This is
why he did not say that the meeting should be at night, but rather, it was to be
held during the bright part of the day. Ibn `Abbas said, "The day of their
festivity was the day of `Ashura'.'' As-Suddi, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said, "It
was the day of their great celebration.'' Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "It was the day
of their great bazzar.'' These statements are not contradictory. I say that
Allah destroyed Fir`awn and his armies on a day similar to this, just as is
confirmed in the Sahih. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "It was a flat
place where all of the people were on the same level, having an equal view of
the event. There was nothing there that would obstruct the view so that some
people could see what others did not.''
[فَتَوَلَّى
فِرْعَوْنُ فَجَمَعَ كَيْدَهُ ثُمَّ أَتَى - قَالَ لَهُمْ مُّوسَى وَيْلَكُمْ لاَ
تَفْتَرُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِباً فَيُسْحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٍ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ
افْتَرَى - فَتَنَـزَعُواْ أَمْرَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ وَأَسَرُّواْ النَّجْوَى -
قَالُواْ إِنْ هَـذَنِ لَسَاحِرَنِ يُرِيدَانِ أَن يُخْرِجَاكُمْ مِّنْ أَرْضِكُمْ
بِسِحْرِهِمَا وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ الْمُثْلَى - فَأَجْمِعُواْ كَيْدَكُمْ
ثُمَّ ائْتُواْ صَفّاً وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْيَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلَى ]
(60. So Fir`awn withdrew, devised his plot and then came back.) (61. Musa
said to them: "Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He should
destroy you completely by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie (against
Allah) will fail miserably.'') (62 Then they debated one with another what they
must do, and they kept their talk secret.) (63. They said: "Verily, these are
two magicians. Their object is to drive you out from your land with magic, and
to take you away from your exemplary way.'') (64. "So devise your plot, and then
assemble in line. And whoever overcomes this day will be indeed
successful.'')
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