قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَـٰشِرِينَ 111
Translations
They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers
Transliteration
Qāloo arjih wa-akhāhu wa-arsil fī al-madāʾini ḥāshirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The magicians of Pharaoh's court respond to his command by requesting that Prophet Musa and his brother Harun be granted respite (postponement of the challenge), and that Pharaoh send summoners throughout the cities to gather people as witnesses. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the magicians sought delay to prepare themselves and gather the finest magicians from Egypt, believing they could overcome Musa's miraculous signs through their sorcery. This request reveals their arrogance and reliance on human skill rather than recognition of divine power.
Revelation Context
This verse occurs within the account of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh in Surah Al-A'raf (Meccan period). The broader context depicts Pharaoh's escalating resistance to Musa's message despite witnessing clear signs; the magicians' request reflects the stubbornness of those who reject truth and place their confidence in worldly abilities and deception rather than submitting to divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific ayah, the broader theme relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned against following sorcery and deceit, emphasizing that truth ultimately prevails over falsehood, as exemplified by Musa's staff overpowering the magicians' illusions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that those who reject divine guidance often resort to delaying tactics and gathering worldly support, yet these efforts are ultimately futile against the truth of Allah. Modern readers should recognize the futility of opposing divine will through human schemes and place their trust entirely in Allah's wisdom rather than in temporary, deceptive means.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَلْقَوْا۟ سَحَرُوٓا۟ أَعْيُنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَآءُو بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ
He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى سَفَاهَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
[Hūd] said, "O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.
وَأَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا۟ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَـٰرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَغَـٰرِبَهَا ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ ۖ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُۥ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْرِشُونَ
And We caused the people who had been oppressed to inherit the eastern regions of the land and the western ones, which We had blessed. And the good word [i.e., decree] of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured. And We destroyed [all] that Pharaoh and his people were producing and what they had been building.
أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ ۗ مَا بِصَاحِبِهِم مِّن جِنَّةٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
Then do they not give thought? There is in their companion [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] no madness. He is not but a clear warner.