قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ 125
Translations
They said, "Indeed, to our Lord we will return.
Transliteration
Qalū innā ilā Rabbinā munqalibūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The magicians of Pharaoh declare their firm conviction that they will ultimately return to their Lord, affirming their belief in the afterlife and divine judgment despite Pharaoh's threats of torture and crucifixion. This statement reflects their sudden transformation from servants of Pharaoh to believers in Allah's oneness, prioritizing their eternal return to God over their worldly fears. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a powerful moment of faith overcoming worldly coercion, demonstrating the magicians' complete submission to Allah after witnessing the truth of Moses' miracles.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Meccan narrative of Surah Al-A'raf describing the confrontation between Prophet Moses and Pharaoh's magicians. After the magicians witnessed Moses' staff transform into a serpent and recognized it as a sign from Allah, they immediately believed and declared their faith, with this statement representing their acceptance of divine accountability despite Pharaoh's threats of severe punishment.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah As-Sajdah 32:15 contains related themes of believers' faith in the return to Allah. The story of the magicians' conversion is also referenced in various hadiths discussing examples of sincere faith (Imam At-Tabari's Tafsir).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith means prioritizing the eternal return to Allah over temporal worldly concerns and threats; it inspires courage in maintaining one's faith regardless of external pressure or consequences.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلْبَلَدُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ يَخْرُجُ نَبَاتُهُۥ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَٱلَّذِى خَبُثَ لَا يَخْرُجُ إِلَّا نَكِدًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَشْكُرُونَ
And the good land - its vegetation emerges by permission of its Lord; but that which is bad - nothing emerges except sparsely, with difficulty. Thus do We diversify the signs for a people who are grateful.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِىٍّ إِلَّآ أَخَذْنَآ أَهْلَهَا بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ
And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allāh].
سَآءَ مَثَلًا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَأَنفُسَهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَظْلِمُونَ
How evil an example [is that of] the people who denied Our signs and used to wrong themselves.
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَزَادَكُمْ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ بَصْۜطَةً ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
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 remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you in stature extensively. So remember the favors of Allāh that you might succeed."