سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 66
قَالَ بَلْ أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىٰ ﴿66﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[Mûsâ (Moses)] said: "Nay, throw you (first)!" Then behold! their ropes and their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
بَلْ
bal
Nay
أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ
alqū
you throw
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
Then behold
حِبَالُهُمْ
ḥibāluhum
Their ropes
وَعِصِيُّهُمْ
waʿiṣiyyuhum
and their staffs
يُخَيَّلُ
yukhayyalu
seemed
إِلَيْهِ
ilayhi
to him
مِن
min
by
سِحْرِهِمْ
siḥ'rihim
their magic
أَنَّهَا
annahā
that they
تَسْعَىٰ
tasʿā
(were) moving
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 66){ فَاِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَ عِصِيُّهُمْ … :} The word "suddenly" indicates that they had made such a tremendous preparation that after throwing their staffs and ropes, there was no delay in their running and moving. The field, due to the magicians standing in rows and throwing their staffs and ropes simultaneously, turned into the appearance of running snakes. Allah Almighty has mentioned in Surah Al-A'raf that they cast a spell over the eyes of the people and has described their magic as a great magic. For the explanation from this verse up to verse (76), refer to the commentary of Surah Al-A'raf, verses (115) to (126). Here, only a few brief indications have been given.
