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.

قُلنا لا تَخَف إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الأَعلىٰ

We said, “Don’t be scared; you have the upper hand.

وَأَلقِ ما في يَمينِكَ تَلقَف ما صَنَعوا ۖ إِنَّما صَنَعوا كَيدُ ساحِرٍ ۖ وَلا يُفلِحُ السّاحِرُ حَيثُ أَتىٰ

Throw that which is in your right hand; it will swallow what they’ve crafted, mere illusions of a magician’s trickery. A magician won’t succeed, wherever he may turn.”

فَأُلقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدًا قالوا آمَنّا بِرَبِّ هارونَ وَموسىٰ

So the magicians fell down prostrating. They said, “We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”

قالَ آمَنتُم لَهُ قَبلَ أَن آذَنَ لَكُم ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكَبيرُكُمُ الَّذي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيدِيَكُم وَأَرجُلَكُم مِن خِلافٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُم في جُذوعِ النَّخلِ وَلَتَعلَمُنَّ أَيُّنا أَشَدُّ عَذابًا وَأَبقىٰ

He threatened, “You dare to believe in Him without my permission? He must be your superior who taught you magic. I will sever your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees. Then you’ll know whose punishment is harsher and more lasting.”

قالوا لَن نُؤثِرَكَ عَلىٰ ما جاءَنا مِنَ البَيِّناتِ وَالَّذي فَطَرَنا ۖ فَاقضِ ما أَنتَ قاضٍ ۖ إِنَّما تَقضي هـٰذِهِ الحَياةَ الدُّنيا

They responded, “We will never prefer you over the clear proofs that have come to us, nor over Him who created us. So issue whatever decree you wish; your jurisdiction extends only to the life of this world.