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
فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ
So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers].
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
And for every nation is a [specified] term. So when their time has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ عَنْهَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَٰبُ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ ٱلْجَمَلُ فِى سَمِّ ٱلْخِيَاطِ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle [i.e., never]. And thus do We recompense the criminals.
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى ضَلَـٰلَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
[Noah] said, "O my people, there is not error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.