When proof had been established against Fir`awn, clearly and rationally, he
resorted to using force against Musa, thinking that after this there would no
further room for discussion. So he said:
[لَئِنِ اتَّخَذْتَ
إِلَـهَاً غَيْرِى لأَجْعَلَنَّكَ مِنَ الْمَسْجُونِينَ]
(If you choose a god other than me, I will certainly put you among the
prisoners.) To this, Musa responded:
[أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكَ
بِشَىءٍ مُّبِينٍ]
(Even if I bring you something manifest) meaning, clear and definitive proof.
[قَالَ فَأْتِ بِهِ
إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّـدِقِينَ - فَأَلْقَى عَصَـهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ
]
(Fir`awn said: "Bring it forth then, if you are of the truthful!'' So he
threw his stick, and behold, it was a serpent, manifest.) meanig, it was very
clear and obvious, with a huge body and a big mouth, terrifying in appearance.
[وَنَزَعَ
يَدَهُ]
(And he drew out his hand,) meaning, from his sleeve,
[فَإِذَا هِىَ
بَيْضَآءُ لِلنَّـظِرِينَ]
(and behold, it was white to all beholders!) It was shining like a piece of
the moon. Since Fir`awn was already doomed, he hastened to stubborn denial, and
said to the chiefs around him:
[إِنَّ هَـذَا
لَسَـحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ]
(Verily, this is indeed a well-versed sorcerer.) One who knows a great deal
of magic or witchcraft. Fir`awn was trying to convince them that this was
sorcery, not a miracle. Then he provoked them against Musa, trying to make them
oppose him and disbelieve in him, and said:
[يُرِيدُ أَن
يُخْرِجَكُمْ مِّنْ أَرْضِكُمْ بِسِحْرِهِ]
(He wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery...) meaning, `he wants
to capture the people's hearts and win them over by doing this, so that they
will support him, and help him and follow him, and he will defeat you in your
own land and take the land from you. So advise me, what should I do with him'
[قَالُواْ أَرْجِهْ
وَأَخَاهُ وَابْعَثْ فِى الْمَدَآئِنِ حَـشِرِينَ - يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَحَّارٍ
عَلِيمٍ ]
(They said: "Put him off and his brother, and send callers to the cities; to
bring up to you every well-versed sorcerer.'') meaning, `delay him and his
brother until you gather together all the sorcerers from every city and region
of your kingdom so that they may confront him and produce something like he
produces, then you will defeat him and have the victory.' So Fir`awn did as they
suggested, which is what Allah decreed would happen to them, so that all the
people would gather in one place and the signs and proof of Allah would be made
manifest before them all in one day.
[فَجُمِعَ
السَّحَرَةُ لِمِيقَـتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ - وَقِيلَ لِلنَّاسِ هَلْ أَنتُمْ
مُّجْتَمِعُونَ - لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ السَّحَرَةَ إِن كَانُواْ هُمُ
الْغَـلِبِينَ - فَلَمَّا جَآءَ السَّحَرَةُ قَالُواْ لِفِرْعَوْنَ أَإِنَّ لَنَا
لاّجْراً إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ الْغَـلِبِينَ - قَالَ نَعَمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ إِذاً
لَّمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ - قَالَ لَهُمْ مُّوسَى أَلْقُواْ مَآ أَنتُمْ مُّلْقُونَ
- فَأَلْقَوْاْ حِبَـلَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُواْ بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَونَ إِنَّا
لَنَحْنُ الْغَـلِبُونَ - فَأَلْقَى مُوسَى عَصَـهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَلْقَفُ مَا
يَأْفِكُونَ - فَأُلْقِىَ السَّحَرَةُ سَـجِدِينَ - قَالُواْ آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ
الْعَـلَمِينَ رَبِّ مُوسَى وَهَـرُونَ ]
(38. So, the sorcerers were assembled at a fixed time on a day appointed.)
(39. And it was said to the people: "Are you (too) going to assemble'') (40.
"That we may follow the sorcerers if they are the winners.'') (41. So, when the
sorcerers arrived, they said to Fir`awn: "Will there surely be a reward for us
if we are the winners'') (42. He said: "Yes, and you shall then verily be of
those brought near (to myself).'') (43. Musa said to them: "Throw what you are
going to throw!'') (44. So, they threw their ropes and their sticks, and said:
"By the might of Fir`awn, it is we who will certainly win!'') (45. Then Musa
threw his stick, and behold, it swallowed up all that they falsely showed!) (46.
And the sorcerers fell down prostrate.) (47. Saying: "We believe in the Lord of
Al-`Alamin.'') (48. "The Lord of Musa and Harun.'')