فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ 107
Translations
So he [i.e., Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest.
Transliteration
Fa-alqa 'asahu fa-itha hiya thu'bānun mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When Musa (Moses) cast down his staff in response to Allah's command, it miraculously transformed into a clear, manifest serpent. This was the first of the nine signs given to Musa to convince Pharaoh and his people of the truth of his message. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this transformation was a sign of Allah's absolute power over creation and served as evidence that Musa was a messenger of the Divine, not a magician as Pharaoh claimed.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader narrative in Surah Al-A'raf detailing Musa's encounter with Pharaoh. The context is Allah's preparation of Musa with miraculous signs before his confrontation with Pharaoh in Egypt. This particular sign—the transformation of the staff—was specifically mentioned by Allah when He first commissioned Musa as a messenger (see 20:17-21), and it appears in multiple surahs (Taha, Ash-Shuara), emphasizing its importance.
Related Hadiths
In Sahih Muslim, there is a hadith describing how the staff of Musa was one of the greatest signs. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains accounts of the miraculous nature of Musa's staff and how it parted the sea and drew water from stones, connecting to broader themes of divine assistance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's power transcends all natural laws and human capabilities; when we align ourselves with Divine guidance, we are supported by forces beyond our comprehension. It also teaches that miraculous confirmation of faith comes from Allah alone, not from human schemes or intellect.