لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ ٱلسَّحَرَةَ إِن كَانُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبِينَ 40
Translations
That we might follow the magicians if they are the predominant?"
Transliteration
La'allana nattabi'u as-saharata in kanu hum al-ghalibeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the conditional reasoning of Pharaoh's people who suggested following the magicians if they proved victorious in the contest against Prophet Musa. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this reflects the spiritual blindness and materialistic worldview of those who judge truth by worldly power rather than divine signs. The ayah illustrates how those who reject faith often place conditions on belief based on outcomes they can perceive, rather than submitting to clear evidence of Allah's truth.
Revelation Context
This verse is part of the narrative of Musa and Pharaoh in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which recounts the historical confrontation between the Prophet and Pharaoh's court. The context is the magicians' challenge where Pharaoh's people, witnessing the apparent contest between Musa's miracles and the magicians' tricks, express willingness to follow whichever side appears to win, demonstrating how faith becomes a matter of pragmatism rather than conviction for those far from guidance.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly addresses this verse, Sahih Muslim contains hadiths about the magicians of Pharaoh who eventually believed in Musa and chose faith over Pharaoh's threats, showing Allah's guidance overcomes worldly considerations. Also relevant: Surah Al-A'raf 7:109-126 provides the fuller narrative of these events.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith cannot be built on conditions tied to worldly success or defeat; rather, belief should be grounded in sincere recognition of Allah's signs and guidance. It serves as a reminder that following truth requires conviction beyond mere pragmatism or visible outcomes.