قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 121
Translations
They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,
Transliteration
Qalu amanna bi-rabbi al-'alamin
Tafsir (Explanation)
The magicians of Pharaoh declare their belief in the Lord of all worlds immediately after witnessing Musa's miraculous staff transform into a serpent. This represents a decisive moment of faith where they recognize the divine signs and reject Pharaoh's false claims to divinity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that their declaration, despite their fear of Pharaoh's punishment, demonstrates the overwhelming power of witnessing divine truth firsthand.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the account of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh and his magicians (7:103-126). The magicians were summoned to counter Musa's miracle, but when they saw the staff miraculously become a serpent, they immediately recognized it as a sign from Allah rather than magic, leading to their spontaneous declaration of faith in Allah as the Lord of all worlds.
Related Hadiths
The incident relates thematically to hadith in Sahih Bukhari (Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 627) regarding the power of witnessing clear signs and the testimony of those who recognize truth. Additionally, the Quran itself references the magicians' belief in Surah Ta-Ha (20:70-71), showing the consistency of this historical account.
Themes
Key Lesson
Witnessing clear evidence of divine truth should lead to immediate and wholehearted acceptance, regardless of worldly consequences or social pressure. The magicians' swift declaration teaches believers that recognizing Allah's signs should override all other loyalties and fears.