قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ فَلَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ۚ لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ 49
Translations
[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him [i.e., Moses] before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic, but you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you all."
Transliteration
Qāla āmantum lahū qabla an ādhana lakum, innahu lakabīrukumu alladhī 'allamakumu as-siḥra, falasawfa ta'lamūn, la-uqaṭṭi'anna aydiyakum wa-arjulakum min khilāf, wa-la-uṣallibannakum ajma'īn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Pharaoh responds to his magicians' belief in Moses by condemning them for believing without his permission, reminding them that their chief magician (the one who taught them sorcery) was working under his authority. He then threatens them with severe punishment: cutting off their hands and feet on opposite sides and crucifying them all. This ayah illustrates Pharaoh's arrogance, his inability to tolerate dissent, and his despotic response to the magicians' sudden conviction in the truth after witnessing Moses' miracle.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Moses confronting Pharaoh (26:1-68), specifically the encounter where Pharaoh's court magicians performed sorcery against Moses' staff. When the staff devoured their magical creations, the magicians recognized the power of God and proclaimed faith. This ayah records Pharaoh's enraged response to their conversion. The surah was revealed in Mecca and presents this story as encouragement to the Prophet Muhammad facing persecution from the Quraysh.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly addresses this verse, it relates thematically to Sunan Ibn Majah and other sources discussing the story of the magicians' faith. The Qur'an itself testifies to their righteousness in 26:51, where they are counted among the believers who accept punishment in God's cause.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah demonstrates that tyrants, when confronted with undeniable truth, respond not with reflection but with threats and violence, revealing their weakness despite their worldly power. For believers, it exemplifies that witnessing divine truth may require sacrificing worldly comfort and security, yet such sacrifice is the true path to eternal honor.