The Contest Between Musa (AS) and the Sorcerers: A Detailed Qur’anic Account
Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha (Hafizahullah)
❖ Question:
How did the contest between Musa (AS) and the sorcerers take place?
❖ Answer:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ائْتُونِي بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ ﴾ [يونس: 79]
"And Pharaoh said: Bring me every skilled sorcerer."
﴿فَلَمَّا جَاءَ السَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ أَلْقُوا مَا أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ ﴾ [يونس: 80]
"So when the sorcerers came, Musa said to them: Throw what you will throw."
Pharaoh intended to suppress the truth through sorcerers and trickery. However, his plan failed, and Musa (AS) prevailed with clear proofs and signs.
When the sorcerers came to face Musa (AS), they were filled with pride and arrogance, assured of Pharaoh’s favor and rewards. But when the truth of Allah manifested, they fell in prostration saying:
﴿فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدًا قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَارُونَ وَمُوسَىٰ ﴾ [طه: 70]
"Then the sorcerers were cast down in prostration, saying: ‘We believe in the Lord of Harun and Musa.’"
✦ The Scene of the Contest
Musa (AS) allowed them to begin, so the people could witness their display. They cast ropes and staffs, casting illusions upon the people’s eyes and terrifying them with a mighty display of sorcery:
﴿فَأَوْجَسَ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِيفَةً مُّوسَىٰ ﴾ [طه: 67]
Musa felt a fear within himself.
Allah reassured him:
﴿قُلْنَا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْأَعْلَىٰ ﴾ [طه: 68]
"We said: Do not fear; indeed, you will be superior."
Then Allah commanded:
﴿وَأَلْقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا ۖ إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا كَيْدُ سَاحِرٍ ۖ وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَىٰ ﴾ [طه: 69]
"Throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have contrived. Indeed, what they have contrived is only a trick of a sorcerer, and a sorcerer will not succeed wherever he may be."
✦ The Triumph of Truth
When Musa (AS) threw his staff, it became a great serpent and swallowed all their ropes and sticks, exposing their trickery. Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَوَقَعَ الْحَقُّ وَبَطَلَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴾ [الأعراف: 118]
"Thus the truth was established, and what they were doing was made vain."
The sorcerers, masters of their craft, realized at once that Musa’s miracle was beyond magic. They fell in prostration, declaring:
﴿قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ ﴾ [الأعراف: 121-122]
"They said: We believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Musa and Harun."
✦ Pharaoh’s Threat
Pharaoh, enraged, accused them of conspiring with Musa (AS):
﴿قَالَ آمَنتُمْ لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ… ﴾ [طه: 71]
"He said: You have believed in him before I gave you permission! Surely he is your leader who has taught you sorcery…"
He threatened to cut off their limbs and crucify them, but the sorcerers responded with firm faith:
﴿إِنَّا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَايَانَا وَمَا أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ ﴾ [طه: 73]
"Indeed, we have believed in our Lord so that He may forgive us our sins and the magic you compelled us to practice. Allah is better and more lasting."
❖ Conclusion
Thus, on that day, they entered as sorcerers but departed as firm believers in Tawhid. Allah distinguished truth from falsehood, honored Musa (AS) with clear victory, and humiliated Pharaoh and his followers.
