فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا مُبْصِرَةً قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ 13
Translations
But when there came to them Our visible signs, they said, "This is obvious magic."
Transliteration
Falamma jaaathum ayatuna mubsirah qaloo haza sihrun mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the clear and evident signs of Allah came to Pharaoh and his people, they rejected them outright, attributing them to magic rather than accepting them as divine miracles. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this represents the willful blindness and obstinacy of those who reject truth despite overwhelming evidence—their hearts were sealed by their own arrogance and disbelief. This ayah demonstrates how even the most undeniable miracles cannot benefit those whose hearts are unwilling to accept God's message.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh in Surah An-Naml, which recounts the confrontation between the Prophet Musa and Pharaoh. This particular verse refers to the moment when Musa displayed the signs (miracles) before Pharaoh and his court, yet they dismissed these clear proofs as mere sorcery—a common refrain of those who rejected the prophets.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The worst of people are those who know the truth but reject it.' (Referenced in various collections). Additionally, Surah Al-Ahqaf (46:7) contains a similar theme: 'When Our verses are recited to them as clear signs, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, "This is obvious magic."'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the availability of clear evidence and signs is not sufficient for faith—a sincere and open heart is essential. We must examine our own tendency to dismiss truths that contradict our desires or worldview, recognizing that arrogance and preconceived notions can blind us to divine guidance, just as Pharaoh's people were blinded despite witnessing undeniable miracles.