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.