1. When the magicians came upon the request of Pharaoh, the Prophet of Allah, Moses, said to them warning them: Do not say lies about Allah, lest you will be destroyed by Allah’s Torment, which is exterminating, and whoever does so will be a loser.
2. This brief and eloquent sermon affected the gathering magicians, and it caused conflict and disagreement in opinion among themselves. They argued about whether he was a magician or a Messenger sent by Allah. However, they soon returned to their challenge to the Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, so they started talking secretly and urging each other to start the debate and match between them and Moses, because they considered Moses and his brother Harun magicians who wanted to disturb the national unity of the Pharaonic kingdom – as Pharaoh mentioned – which was their Egyptian homeland.
In addition, according to the magicians, Moses and Harun wanted to equate the upper class of people including the family of Pharaoh, and the common people and the lower class of the Children of Israel, and so supporting Moses was not based on the truth, but rather it was to preserve the social status.
3. Based on that: it was necessary to agree on one opinion, which was to defeat Moses and his brother in order to protect the Pharaonic kingdom, and to preserve the social and religious status of the kingdom, even if it was not the right one.
(Moses warned the magicians, “Woe to you! Do not fabricate a lie against Allah,1 or He will wipe you out with a torment. Whoever fabricates ˹lies˺ is bound to fail.”* So the magicians disputed the matter among themselves, conversing privately* They concluded, “These two are only magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic, and do away with your most cherished traditions* So orchestrate your plan, then come forward in ˹perfect˺ ranks. And whoever prevails today will certainly be successful.)” (Ta-Ha 20: 61-64)
4. After that, the magicians asked Moses to choose to either start or let them start, so Moses chose that the magicians start presenting what they had, and after that, it would be his turn.
5. The magicians began to throw ropes and sticks, seeking the help of Pharaoh’s honor, and hoping to win the debate and the match between them and the Prophet Moussa.
“They said, “O Moses! Either you cast, or let us be the first to cast.” (Ta-Ha 20: 65)
“Moses said to them, “Cast whatever you wish to cast.”* So they cast down their ropes and staffs, saying, “By Pharaoh’s might, it is we who will surely prevail.” (Ash-Shu’ara 26: 43-44)
6. The ropes and sticks turned into serpents that filled the place, and that was an illusion, but they imagined that they were indeed snakes, while in fact, they were not. That scene provoked a sense of fear in Moses’s heart, and the reason for his fear was: People might be fascinated by that magic trick before he cast the stick.
7. At that point the Revelation came to reassure him that he would be the victorious one. It was said to him: Throw the stick that you carry in your right hand, for it would swallow up all the ropes and sticks at great speed because his stick is a miracle from Allah and what the people had done was a magic trick and fear that was cast into their hearts. Those tricks would neither last nor win.
(“Moses responded, “No, you go first.” And suddenly their ropes and staffs appeared to him—by their magic—to be slithering* So Moses concealed fear within himself* We reassured ˹him˺, “Do not fear! It is certainly you who will prevail* Cast what is in your right hand, and it will swallow up what they have made, for what they have made is no more than a magic trick. And magicians can never succeed wherever they go.”) (Ta-Ha 20: 66-69)
(They asked, “O Moses! Will you cast, or shall we be the first to cast?”* Moses said, “You first.” So when they did, they deceived the eyes of the people, stunned them, and made a great display of magic. Then We inspired Moses, “Throw down your staff,”) (Al-A’raf 7: 115-117)
8. The Prophet of Allah Moses threw the stick as Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, ordered him, and the stick swallowed up all the magic that the magicians had fabricated, as mentioned above. What happened after that, Pharaoh did not account for; the magicians prostrated to Allah immediately. They were amazed about the Divine Sign they saw, and they knew it was not magic. Then, they declared their belief in the true Lord of the Worlds (the Lord of Moses and Harun), while Pharaoh was not a true Lord.
(Then We inspired Moses, “Throw down your staff,” and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion! ) (Al-A’raf 7: 117)
( Moses said to them, “Cast whatever you wish to cast.”So they cast down their ropes and staffs, saying, “By Pharaoh’s might, it is we who will surely prevail.” Then Moses threw down his staff, and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion!) (Ash-Shu’ara 26:43-45)
لما حضر السحرة بأمر فرعون قال لهم نبي الله موسى مخوفا ومحذرًا: لا تتقولوا على الله
، فتنسبوا إليه ما هو كذب، فإن من فعل ذلك أهلكه الله بعذاب من عنده، أي يهلككم بعذاب إبادة واستئصال، ومن فعل ذلك فهو الخاسر.
أثرت هذه الموعظة الوجيزة البليغة في السحرة المجتمعين، وأدت إلى تنازعهم واختلافهم في الرأي هل هو ساحر أم هو رسول من السماء، لكنهم سرعان ما عادوا إلى ما هم عليه من التحدي لنبي الله-عليه السلام-، فجعلوا يتحدثون سرًّا ويحثون بعضهم بعضا على الإقدام على المناظرة والمباراة بينهم وبين موسى؛ لأنهم يزعمون أن موسى وأخيه هارون ساحران، يريدان الإخلال بالوحدة الوطنية للمملكة الفرعونية-كما ذكر فرعون-أي دياركم المصرية.
كما أنهما يريدان أن يساووا بينكم أي الشرفاء من آل فرعون، وبين البسطاء من بني إسرائيل، فالوقوف أمام موسى ليس تبعًا للحق، وإنما للمحافظة على المكانة الاجتماعية.
بناء على ذلك: لا بد من الاتفاق على رأي واحد وهو مغالبة موسى وأخيه للمحافظة على المملكة الفرعونية، والمحافظة على الحالة الاجتماعية والدينية التي تعيشها تلك المملكة ولو كانت تلك الحالة غير صحيحة.
“قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَى وَيْلَكُمْ لا تَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللهِ كَذِبًا فَيُسْحِتَكُمْ بِعَذَابٍ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرَى. فَتَنَازَعُوا أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجْوَى. قَالُوا إِنْ هَذَانِ لَسَاحِرَانِ يُرِيدَانِ أَن يُخْرِجَاكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِمَا وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ الْمُثْلَى. فَأَجْمِعُوا كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ائْتُوا صَفًّا وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْيَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلَى”. (طه 20: 61-64)
بعد ذلك خير السحرةُ نبي الله موسى، إما أن يبدأ أو يبدأ السحرة فاختار موسى أن يبدأ السحرة ثم يكون الإلقاء عليه
ابتدأ القوم بإلقاء الحبال والعصي، مستعينين بعزة فرعون، حافين على كسبهم للمناظرة وربحهم للمباراة بينهم وبين نبي الله موسى
قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى إِمَّا أَنْ تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ نَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَلْقَى” ) (طه 20: 65))
“قَالَ لَهُمْ مُوسَى أَلْقُوا مَا أَنْتُمْ مُلْقُونَ. فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ” (الشعراء 26: 43-44)
تحولت الحبال والعصي إلى حيات تملأ المكان، وكان ذلك سحر تخييل-أي أنه بفعل الساحر يتخيل الناظر أنها حيات وهي في الحقيقة لم تتحول- فأثار ذلك إحساسًا بالخوف في قلب موسى، وسبب خوفه: أن يفتتن الناس بذلك السحر قبل أن يلقي العصا
وهنا جاءه الوحي يطمئنه إنك أنت المنتصر، وألق العصا التي تحملها بيمينك، فإنها ستبتلع كل الحبال والعصي بسرعة فائقة، لأن عصاك معجزة من الله وما صنعه القوم من قبيل سحر العيون، وإرهاب العقول ومثل ذلك لا يبقى ولا يدوم ولا ينتصر
” قَالَ بَلْ أَلْقُوا فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَى. فَأَوْجَسَ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِيفَةً مُّوسَى. قُلْنَا لا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الاعْلَى. وَأَلْقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا كَيْدُ سَاحِرٍ وَلا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَى”) (طه 20: 66-69)
“قَالُوا يَامُوسَى إِمَّا أَنْ تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ نَكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ. قَالَ أَلْقُوا فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا سَحَرُوا أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَاءُوا بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ.وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ” (الأعراف 7: 115-117)
ألقى نبي الله موسى العصا كما أمره الله عز وجل، فابتلعت العصا كل السحر الذي افتراه السحرة-كما تقدم-عند ذلك حدث ما لم يكن في حساب فرعون، فقد سجد السحرة فورًا، لاندهاشهم ولأن الآية أبهرتهم وعلموا أنها ليست من قبيل السحر، وأعلنوا إيمانهم برب العالمين الحقيقي (رب موسى وهارون) أما فرعون فهو ليس رب حقيقي.
(وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۖ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ﴾ الأعراف 7: 117
( قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ أَلْقُوا مَا أَنتُم مَا مُّلْقُونَ ﴿٤٣﴾ فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾ فَأَلْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ يَأْفِكُونَ ) الشعراء 26: 43-45