Surah 10

Surah 10:81

"Then, when they had cast, Moses said, ‘What you have brought is magic. Surely God will invalidate it. Surely God does not set right any deed of the fomenters of corruption."
Between Musa and the Magicians Verses 10:79-82
Show Full Scripture Context (10:79-82) — 4 Verses
Verse 79

وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ٱئۡتُونِي بِكُلِّ سَٰحِرٍ عَلِيمٖ

And Pharaoh said, ‘Bring me every skilled magician.’

Verse 80

فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰٓ أَلۡقُواْ مَآ أَنتُم مُّلۡقُونَ

When the magicians came, Moses said to them, ‘Cast (down) what you are going to cast.’

Verse 81

فَلَمَّآ أَلۡقَوۡاْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ مَا جِئۡتُم بِهِ ٱلسِّحۡرُۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَيُبۡطِلُهُۥٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُصۡلِحُ عَمَلَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ

Then, when they had cast, Moses said, ‘What you have brought is magic. Surely God will invalidate it. Surely God does not set right any deed of the fomenters of corruption.

Verse 82

وَيُحِقُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحَقَّ بِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ

God verifies the truth by His words, even though the sinners dislike (it).’

Allah mentioned the story of the magicians and Musa in Surat Al-A'raf (there is a commentary on it in that Surah), this Surah, Surat Ta Ha, and in Surat Ash-Shu'ara Fir'awn, may Allah's curse be upon him, wanted to deceive the people and impress them with the tricks of the magicians in direct opposition to the plain truth that Musa brought. The result was the exact opposite and he therefore didn't attain his goal. The signs of the Lord prevailed in that public festival. {And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. They said: "We believe in the Lord of all that exists - the Lord of Musa and Harun."} [7:120-122]. Fir'awn thought that he would achieve victory through the magicians over the Messenger sent by Allah, the All-Knower of all hidden things. But he failed, lost Paradise and was deserving of the Hellfire. {Fir'awn said: "Bring me every well-versed sorcerer." And when the sorcerers came, Musa said to them: "Cast down what you want to cast!"} They stood in line after they received the promise of Fir'awn to become closer to him and obtain a generous reward. Musa wanted them to begin. He wanted the people to see what the magicians had made, then he would come with the truth after that to triumph over their falsehood. {They said: "O Musa! Either you throw first or we be the first to throw?" [Musa] said: "Nay, throw you (first)!"}. When the magicians cast their spells they bewitched the eyes of the people through their display of mighty sorcery. At that time, {Musa conceived fear in himself. We (Allah) said: "Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand. And throw that which is in your right hand! It will swallow up that which they have made. That which they have made is only a magician's trick, and the magician will never be successful, to whatever amount (of skill) he may attain."} [20:67-69]. Upon that, Musa said: {What you have brought is sorcery, Allah will surely make it of no effect. Verily, Allah does not set right the work of the evildoers. And Allah will establish and make apparent the truth by His Words, however much the criminals may hate (it).}

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.