سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 71
قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَأَبْقَىٰ ﴿71﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[Fir‘aun (Pharaoh)] said: "Believe you in him [Mûsâ (Moses)] before I give you permission? Verily he is your chief who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, and you shall surely know which of us [I (Fir‘aun - Pharaoh) or the Lord of Mûsâ (Moses) (Allâh)] can give the severe and more lasting torment."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
ءَامَنتُمْ
āmantum
You believe
لَهُۥ
lahu
[to] him
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
أَنْ
an
[that]
ءَاذَنَ
ādhana
I gave permission
لَكُمْ ۖ
lakum
to you
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, he
لَكَبِيرُكُمُ
lakabīrukumu
(is) your chief
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
the one who
عَلَّمَكُمُ
ʿallamakumu
taught you
ٱلسِّحْرَ ۖ
l-siḥ'ra
the magic
فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ
fala-uqaṭṭiʿanna
So surely I will cut off
أَيْدِيَكُمْ
aydiyakum
your hands
وَأَرْجُلَكُم
wa-arjulakum
and your feet
مِّنْ
min
of
خِلَـٰفٍۢ
khilāfin
opposite sides
وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ
wala-uṣallibannakum
and surely I will crucify you
فِى
fī
on
جُذُوعِ
judhūʿi
(the) trunks
ٱلنَّخْلِ
l-nakhli
(of) date-palms
وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ
walataʿlamunna
and surely you will know
أَيُّنَآ
ayyunā
which of us
أَشَدُّ
ashaddu
(is) more severe
عَذَابًۭا
ʿadhāban
(in) punishment
وَأَبْقَىٰ
wa-abqā
and more lasting
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
Pharaoh said, "You have believed in Him without my permission! Surely, Moses is your leader who has taught you magic [50]. Now I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us—myself or Moses—has the more severe and lasting punishment."
[50]
Why Did Pharaoh Threaten the Believing Magicians So Severely?
Firstly, Pharaoh and his courtiers had been defeated in the field of contest, which a large number of people had witnessed with their own eyes. Secondly, the calamity was that the very magicians upon whom this contest was staged, instead of making any excuse or apology, themselves embraced faith. This double defeat infuriated Pharaoh. And in order to keep the people deceived for some more time and to keep them away from the call of Musa (peace be upon him), he devised this strategy: that these magicians should be declared traitors and spies, and it should be announced that in reality, these magicians seem to be disciples of Musa, and their mission was the same. That is why the magicians immediately submitted. Therefore, O magicians! I will inflict such and such punishment upon you that even your generations will remember it, and you will fully realize the consequence of believing in Musa. By believing, you think that you alone will attain salvation, and the other people who have not believed in Musa will remain in eternal torment—so now you will find out whose punishment is more severe and longer lasting.
[50]
Why Did Pharaoh Threaten the Believing Magicians So Severely?
Firstly, Pharaoh and his courtiers had been defeated in the field of contest, which a large number of people had witnessed with their own eyes. Secondly, the calamity was that the very magicians upon whom this contest was staged, instead of making any excuse or apology, themselves embraced faith. This double defeat infuriated Pharaoh. And in order to keep the people deceived for some more time and to keep them away from the call of Musa (peace be upon him), he devised this strategy: that these magicians should be declared traitors and spies, and it should be announced that in reality, these magicians seem to be disciples of Musa, and their mission was the same. That is why the magicians immediately submitted. Therefore, O magicians! I will inflict such and such punishment upon you that even your generations will remember it, and you will fully realize the consequence of believing in Musa. By believing, you think that you alone will attain salvation, and the other people who have not believed in Musa will remain in eternal torment—so now you will find out whose punishment is more severe and longer lasting.
