وَجَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبِينَ 113
Translations
And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Indeed for us is a reward if we are the predominant."
Transliteration
Wa jaa'a as-saharatu Fir'auna qalou inna lana la-ajran in kunna nahnu al-ghalibeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
The magicians came to Pharaoh and negotiated a reward, saying: 'Indeed, for us there is a reward if we are the ones who overcome [Moses].' This ayah illustrates how the magicians approached Pharaoh with confidence in their craft, seeking material compensation for their service. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates their worldly motivation and reliance on their skills rather than truth, setting the stage for their humiliation when they witnessed the miraculous staff of Moses.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Moses and Pharaoh in Surah Al-A'raf. The context is the confrontation between Moses (upon whom be peace) and Pharaoh's court, where Pharaoh summoned the best magicians of Egypt to counter Moses' miracle. This passage illustrates the political and social dynamics of Pharaoh's kingdom and his desperation to maintain power against the Message of Allah.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah Ta-Ha (20:63-66) provides parallel narration of the same event. The theme of deception and Allah's truth prevailing is reflected in the hadith: 'The truthful [merchant] and the honest merchant will be with the prophets on the Day of Judgment' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1210), contrasting truth with falsehood.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that reliance on worldly skills and material rewards without grounding in truth inevitably leads to failure and humiliation. Modern readers should reflect on how pursuing gain through deception or falsehood—no matter how skilled—cannot stand against divine truth and justice.