The Accusation of Sorcery Against Prophet Musa (AS) by Haman and Qarun: An Analysis of Qur’anic Verses
Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha (Hafizahullah)
❖ Question:
Did Haman and Qarun also accuse Sayyiduna Musa (AS) of being a sorcerer?
❖ Answer:
Yes.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَقَارُونَ فَقَالُوا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ ﴾ [المؤمن: 24]
"To Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun; but they said: ‘A sorcerer, a liar.’"
Pharaoh was the king of the Copts in Egypt, Haman was his minister, and Qarun was the wealthiest and most influential trader of that time.
The statement فَقَالُوا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ means that they denied Musa (AS), labeling him as a sorcerer, insane, and deluded. But Allah ﷻ refuted their lies and revealed verses to expose their falsehood:
﴿كَذَٰلِكَ مَا أَتَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُوا سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ ﴾ [الذاريات: 52]
"Similarly, no messenger came to those before them but they said: ‘A sorcerer or a madman.’"
﴿أَتَوَاصَوْا بِهِ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُونَ ﴾ [الذاريات: 53]
"Did they recommend this to one another? No! Rather, they are a transgressing people."
Furthermore, Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُوا إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴾ [يونس: 76]
"So when the truth came to them from Us, they said: ‘Indeed, this is surely clear sorcery.’"
This is a decisive proof that Allah Himself sent Musa (AS) as His Messenger to them.
