فَأَلقىٰ عَصاهُ فَإِذا هِيَ ثُعبانٌ مُبينٌ
So, he threw down his staff, and behold, it turned into a conspicuous serpent.
وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذا هِيَ بَيضاءُ لِلنّاظِرينَ
And he exposed his hand, and suddenly, it was white for all to see.
قالَ المَلَأُ مِن قَومِ فِرعَونَ إِنَّ هـٰذا لَساحِرٌ عَليمٌ
Pharaoh’s council exclaimed, “This man is a skilled magician!”
يُريدُ أَن يُخرِجَكُم مِن أَرضِكُم ۖ فَماذا تَأمُرونَ
“He intends to expel you from your land; what, then, do you command?”
قالوا أَرجِه وَأَخاهُ وَأَرسِل فِي المَدائِنِ حاشِرينَ
They proposed, “Put off him and his brother for some time, and send envoys to the cities.”
يَأتوكَ بِكُلِّ ساحِرٍ عَليمٍ
“To gather and bring to you every accomplished magician.”
وَجاءَ السَّحَرَةُ فِرعَونَ قالوا إِنَّ لَنا لَأَجرًا إِن كُنّا نَحنُ الغالِبينَ
So, the magicians arrived at Pharaoh’s presence, and they inquired, “Will we be rewarded if we triumph?”
قالَ نَعَم وَإِنَّكُم لَمِنَ المُقَرَّبينَ
He answered, “Yes, and you will be among the ones closest to me.”
قالوا يا موسىٰ إِمّا أَن تُلقِيَ وَإِمّا أَن نَكونَ نَحنُ المُلقينَ
They asked, “O Moses, should you throw first, or should we?”
قالَ أَلقوا ۖ فَلَمّا أَلقَوا سَحَروا أَعيُنَ النّاسِ وَاستَرهَبوهُم وَجاءوا بِسِحرٍ عَظيمٍ
He replied, “You throw.” And when they performed their enchantment, they cast a spell upon the people’s eyes, struck fear in their hearts, and exhibited a magnificent spectacle of sorcery.
وَأَوحَينا إِلىٰ موسىٰ أَن أَلقِ عَصاكَ ۖ فَإِذا هِيَ تَلقَفُ ما يَأفِكونَ
Then, We revealed to Moses, “Throw down your staff.” And suddenly, it swallowed the illusions they had fabricated.