فَلَنَأتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحرٍ مِثلِهِ فَاجعَل بَينَنا وَبَينَكَ مَوعِدًا لا نُخلِفُهُ نَحنُ وَلا أَنتَ مَكانًا سُوًى
We will bring you magic like it. So, set a date between us and you, in a neutral place, which neither we nor you will fail to attend.”
قالَ مَوعِدُكُم يَومُ الزّينَةِ وَأَن يُحشَرَ النّاسُ ضُحًى
He replied, “Your appointment is on Festival Day, and let the people gather in the morning.”
فَتَوَلّىٰ فِرعَونُ فَجَمَعَ كَيدَهُ ثُمَّ أَتىٰ
Pharaoh turned his back, formulated his plan, and then came back.
قالَ لَهُم موسىٰ وَيلَكُم لا تَفتَروا عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا فَيُسحِتَكُم بِعَذابٍ ۖ وَقَد خابَ مَنِ افتَرىٰ
Moses cautioned them, “Woe to you! Don’t forge lies against God, lest He destroys you with a punishment; and whoever fabricates lies is bound to fail.”
فَتَنازَعوا أَمرَهُم بَينَهُم وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجوىٰ
They discussed their matter amongst themselves and kept their counsel secret.
قالوا إِن هـٰذانِ لَساحِرانِ يُريدانِ أَن يُخرِجاكُم مِن أَرضِكُم بِسِحرِهِما وَيَذهَبا بِطَريقَتِكُمُ المُثلىٰ
They declared, “These two are magicians who intend to expel you from your land with their magic and abolish your exemplary tradition.
فَأَجمِعوا كَيدَكُم ثُمَّ ائتوا صَفًّا ۚ وَقَد أَفلَحَ اليَومَ مَنِ استَعلىٰ
So, formulate your strategy and come forward as a united front. And indeed, he will succeed this day who is superior.”
قالوا يا موسىٰ إِمّا أَن تُلقِيَ وَإِمّا أَن نَكونَ أَوَّلَ مَن أَلقىٰ
They challenged, “O Moses, either you throw, or we will be the first to throw.”
قالَ بَل أَلقوا ۖ فَإِذا حِبالُهُم وَعِصِيُّهُم يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيهِ مِن سِحرِهِم أَنَّها تَسعىٰ
He replied, “Rather, you throw.” And suddenly, their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving.
فَأَوجَسَ في نَفسِهِ خيفَةً موسىٰ
And Moses felt fear within himself.
قُلنا لا تَخَف إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الأَعلىٰ
We said, “Don’t be scared; you have the upper hand.