فَجُمِعَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ لِمِيقَـٰتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ 38
Translations
So the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day.
Transliteration
Fajumi'a as-saharatu limiqati yawmin ma'lum
Tafsir (Explanation)
The sorcerers were gathered together at an appointed time on a known day, referring to Pharaoh's summons of the magicians to confront Prophet Musa (Moses) in a public contest. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this gathering represented Pharaoh's confidence in his magicians' abilities to defeat Musa's miracles, yet it ultimately became the means of their humiliation when they witnessed the clear truth and believed in Allah. The 'known day' emphasizes the predetermined nature of events and Allah's wisdom in orchestrating circumstances for His signs to be manifested.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh, a central theme in Surah Ash-Shu'ara. The surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period, presenting this account to comfort Prophet Muhammad and the believers facing opposition from the Quraysh, showing how Allah ultimately vindicated His messengers against their enemies.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this specific gathering, Sahih Muslim contains hadith discussions about the miracles of Musa and the futility of magic against divine signs. The theme relates to Prophet Muhammad's instruction that magic and sorcery are among the greatest sins, emphasizing the contrast between deception and divine truth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's plans are perfectly orchestrated and that those who rely on falsehood and deception will ultimately be exposed when confronted with divine truth. For modern believers, it teaches reliance on Allah's wisdom rather than worldly power or manipulation, knowing that every event serves Allah's greater purpose.