What Was the Result of the Contest Between Moses (PBUH) and the Magicians?
كيف سارت تلك المناظرة بين موسى والسحرة؟ وما هي أحداثها؟
When the magicians came upon the request of Pharaoh, the Prophet of Allah, Moses, warned them: Do not say lies about Allah, lest you be destroyed by Allah’s exterminating torment, and whoever does so will be a loser.
This brief, eloquent sermon affected the gathered magicians, causing conflict and disagreement among themselves over whether he was a magician or a Messenger sent by Allah. They soon returned to their challenge, talking secretly and urging each other on, because they considered Moses and Harun magicians wanting to disturb national unity. They also believed Moses and Harun wanted to equate the upper class, including Pharaoh’s family, with the common people of the Children of Israel, so supporting Moses was not based on truth but on preserving social status. It was necessary, they agreed, to defeat Moses to protect the kingdom’s social and religious status quo, even if that status quo was not the right one.
(Moses warned the magicians, “Woe to you! Do not fabricate a lie against Allah, 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
The magicians asked Moses to choose whether to start or let them start, and Moses chose that the magicians present first. They began throwing ropes and sticks, invoking Pharaoh’s might.
(“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
The ropes and sticks appeared to become serpents that filled the place, an illusion, though it looked genuinely real. That scene provoked fear in Moses’s heart, because people might be fascinated by the trick before he cast his own staff. Then revelation came to reassure him he would be victorious, and to throw the staff in his right hand, which would swallow up the ropes and staffs, since his staff was a miracle from Allah while what the magicians had done was only a trick that 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
The Prophet of Allah Moses threw the staff as Allah commanded, and it swallowed up all the magic the magicians had fabricated. What happened next, Pharaoh had not accounted for: the magicians prostrated immediately, amazed by the sign, knowing it was not magic, and declared their belief in the true Lord of the Worlds, the Lord of Moses and Harun, while Pharaoh was not a true lord at all.
(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 مخوفًا ومحذرًا: لا تتقولوا على الله، فتنسبوا إليه ما هو كذب، فإن من فعل ذلك أهلكه الله بعذاب من عنده، 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؛ لأنهم يزعمون أن موسى وأخاه هارون ساحران يريدان الإخلال بالوحدة الوطنية للمملكة الفرعونية. كما أنهما يريدان أن يساويا بين الشرفاء من آل فرعون والبسطاء من بني إسرائيل، فالوقوف أمام موسى ليس تبعًا للحق وإنما للمحافظة على المكانة الاجتماعية.
(قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ وَيْلَكُمْ لَا تَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّـهِ كَذِبًا فَيُسْحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٍ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرَىٰ فَتَنَازَعُوا أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجْوَىٰ قَالُوا إِنْ هَـٰذَانِ لَسَاحِرَانِ يُرِيدَانِ أَن يُخْرِجَاكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِكُم بِسِحْرِهِمَا وَيَذْهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ الْمُثْلَىٰ فَأَجْمِعُوا كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ائْتُوا صَفًّا وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْيَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلَىٰ) طه 20: 61-64
بعد ذلك خيّر السحرةُ نبي الله موسى، إما أن يبدأ أو يبدأ السحرة، فاختار موسى أن يبدأ السحرة. ابتدأ القوم بإلقاء الحبال والعصي، مستعينين بعزة فرعون.
(قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِمَّا أَن تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَن نَّكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَلْقَىٰ) طه 20: 65
(قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ أَلْقُوا مَا أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ) الشعراء 26: 43-44
تحولت الحبال والعصي إلى حيات تملأ المكان، وكان ذلك سحر تخييل، فأثار ذلك إحساسًا بالخوف في قلب موسى، وسبب خوفه أن يفتتن الناس بذلك السحر قبل أن يلقي العصا. وهنا جاءه الوحي يطمئنه أنه المنتصر، وأن يلقي العصا التي يحملها بيمينه فإنها ستبتلع كل الحبال والعصي، لأن عصاه معجزة من الله وما صنعه القوم كيد ساحر لا يبقى ولا يدوم.
(قَالَ بَلْ أَلْقُوا فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىٰ فَأَوْجَسَ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِيفَةً مُّوسَىٰ قُلْنَا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْأَعْلَىٰ وَأَلْقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا كَيْدُ سَاحِرٍ وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَىٰ) طه 20: 66-69
(قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِمَّا أَن تُلْقِيَ وَإِمَّا أَن نَّكُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُلْقِينَ قَالَ أَلْقُوا فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا سَحَرُوا أَعْيُنَ النَّاسِ وَاسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَاءُوا بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ) الأعراف 7: 115-117
ألقى نبي الله موسى العصا كما أمره الله، فابتلعت العصا كل السحر الذي افتراه السحرة. 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.
(وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ) الأعراف 7: 117
(قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ أَلْقُوا مَا أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ فَأَلْقَوْا حِبَالَهُمْ وَعِصِيَّهُمْ وَقَالُوا بِعِزَّةِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْغَالِبُونَ فَأَلْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلْقَفُ مَا يَأْفِكُونَ) الشعراء 26: 43-45
1. A Warning Before Any Magic Was Shown | تحذيرٌ قبل عرض أي سحر
Before the contest even began, Musa warns the assembled magicians directly against fabricating lies about Allah, naming the exterminating punishment that would follow. This warning is delivered to men who had just been recruited as his opponents, showing genuine concern for their fate even in the moment of confrontation.
قبل أن تبدأ المباراة أصلا، يحذر موسى السحرة المجتمعين مباشرة من افتراء الكذب على الله، ذاكرا العذاب المستأصل الذي سيتبع ذلك. ويُوجَّه هذا التحذير إلى رجال جُندوا للتو خصوما له، مظهرا اهتماما حقيقيا بمصيرهم حتى في لحظة المواجهة.
2. A Warning Sharp Enough to Cause Real Doubt | تحذيرٌ يثير شكًا حقيقيًا
The magicians’ brief private dispute, arguing among themselves over whether Musa was a magician or a true messenger, shows that his warning genuinely unsettled them before the contest had even started. Their expertise in illusion made them uniquely positioned to sense that something about Musa did not fit the pattern of an ordinary rival.
يُظهر الخلاف الخاص الموجز بين السحرة، تجادلهم فيما بينهم حول ما إذا كان موسى ساحرا أو رسولا حقيقيا، أن تحذيره أزعجهم فعلا قبل أن تبدأ المباراة أصلا. وقد جعلتهم خبرتهم بالتخييل في موقع فريد لإدراك أن شيئا في موسى لا يتطابق مع نمط الخصم العادي.
3. Social Status Overriding Genuine Doubt | المكانة الاجتماعية تتغلب على الشك الحقيقي
Despite their uncertainty, the magicians proceed anyway, reasoning that Musa’s message threatened to erase the distinction between Pharaoh’s elite and the common Israelites. Their decision to fight him was rooted in preserving a social hierarchy they privately suspected might not be built on truth at all.
ورغم شكهم، يمضي السحرة قدما، مستدلين بأن رسالة موسى تهدد بمحو التمييز بين نخبة فرعون وعامة بني إسرائيل. وتجذر قرارهم بمواجهته في الحفاظ على تراتبية اجتماعية اشتبهوا سرا في أنها قد لا تقوم على الحق أصلا.
4. Musa Lets Them Go First | موسى يترك لهم البدء
Given the choice of who would begin, Musa deliberately lets the magicians present their illusion first. This decision let the truth come after the falsehood and expose it in full view, since his sign would follow, and visibly overtake, whatever they produced.
وحين خُيّر من يبدأ، يترك موسى عمدا السحرة يعرضون تخييلهم أولا. وبهذا القرار جاء الحق بعد الباطل ليكشفه أمام الجميع، إذ ستأتي آيته بعد ذلك وتتفوق بوضوح على أي شيء أنتجوه.
5. An Illusion Convincing Enough to Frighten a Prophet | تخييلٌ مقنعٌ لدرجة إخافة نبي
When the ropes and staffs appeared to move like living snakes, Musa himself felt a moment of genuine fear, worried the crowd would be swept up by the spectacle before he had a chance to respond. The Quran’s honesty about this fear, rather than presenting Musa as unaffected by the scene, makes the reassurance that follows all the more significant.
حين بدت الحبال والعصي وكأنها تتحرك كحيات حية، شعر موسى نفسه بلحظة خوف حقيقي، قلقا من أن ينجرف الجمهور وراء المشهد قبل أن تتاح له فرصة الرد. وصدق القرآن في ذكر هذا الخوف، بدلا من تصوير موسى غير متأثر بالمشهد، يجعل الطمأنة التي تلي أكثر دلالة.
6. Reassurance, the Swallowing Staff, and Immediate Belief | طمأنة وعصا تبتلع وإيمانٌ فوري
Allah reassures Musa directly, “It is certainly you who will prevail,” and instructs him to throw the staff already in his hand, which swallows every illusion the magicians had produced. The outcome Pharaoh had never planned for follows immediately: the very magicians recruited to defeat Musa fall in prostration on the spot, recognizing genuine divine power when they saw it and declaring belief in the true Lord of the Worlds.
يطمئن الله موسى مباشرة: “إنك أنت الأعلى”، ويأمره بإلقاء العصا التي في يده بالفعل، فتبتلع كل تخييل أنتجه السحرة. وتتبع ذلك فورا نتيجة لم يخطط لها فرعون قط: فالسحرة أنفسهم الذين جُندوا لهزيمة موسى يسقطون ساجدين على الفور، مدركين قدرة إلهية حقيقية حين رأوها ومعلنين إيمانهم برب العالمين الحقيقي.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What was the result of the contest between Moses and the magicians?
Moses’s staff swallowed up their entire illusion, and the magicians immediately fell in prostration, believing in the true Lord of the Worlds.
What did Moses say to the magicians before the contest began?
He warned them not to fabricate lies about Allah, or they would be destroyed by His punishment.
Why did the magicians proceed despite their private doubts?
They chose to preserve their social status and the kingdom’s hierarchy rather than follow their uncertainty.
Did Moses show fear during the contest?
Yes, briefly, when the magicians’ ropes and staffs appeared to move, before Allah reassured him of victory.
How did the magicians react once Moses’s staff swallowed their illusion?
They fell in prostration immediately, recognizing it was not magic, and declared their belief in the Lord of Moses and Harun.