لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ 124
Translations
I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will surely crucify you all."
Transliteration
La-uqatti'anna aydiyakum wa-arjulakum min khilaf thumma la-usallibannakum ajma'in
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Pharaoh's threat of severe punishment against the magicians who believed in Moses and Allah. The phrase 'cut off your hands and feet from opposite sides' refers to amputation of the right hand and left foot (or vice versa) as a form of brutal execution, followed by crucifixion. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this represents Pharaoh's arrogant desperation when confronted with the truth, and the magicians' steadfastness in faith despite this terrifying threat demonstrates their sincere belief and willingness to sacrifice everything for Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Moses and Pharaoh in Meccan Surah Al-A'raf, specifically recounting the famous contest between Moses and Pharaoh's magicians. The context shows Pharaoh's response after his magicians witnessed the miracle of the staff becoming a serpent and consequently believed in Allah, rejecting Pharaoh's false claims to divinity.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah's consequence, Sahih Muslim contains hadiths about the magicians' eventual acceptance of faith and their readiness for martyrdom, exemplifying the principle mentioned in Surah Al-'Ankabut (29:10) regarding trials and steadfastness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith in Allah empowers believers to face even the most terrifying threats with courage and resolve. For modern readers, it illustrates that material power and physical threats are ultimately insignificant against sincere conviction in divine truth, encouraging steadfastness in faith regardless of worldly consequences.
Related Ayahs
فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ ءَاسَىٰ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ كَـٰفِرِينَ
And he [i.e., Shuʿayb] turned away from them and said, "O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the messages of my Lord and advised you, so how could I grieve for a disbelieving people?"
فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَـٰقُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And there followed them successors who inherited the Scripture [while] taking the commodities of this lower life and saying, "It will be forgiven for us." And if an offer like it comes to them, they will [again] take it. Was not the covenant of the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] taken from them that they would not say about Allāh except the truth, and they studied what was in it? And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allāh, so will you not use reason?
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتُمْ شُعَيْبًا إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ
Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "If you should follow Shuʿayb, indeed, you would then be losers."
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ وَلِتَتَّقُوا۟ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allāh so you might receive mercy?"