In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent
Said (the sorcerers): “Moses! Either you throw (your staff first), or we shall be the first to throw.”
He answered: “You may throw first.” And by virtue of their sorcery, their ropes and staffs seemed to him to be moving rapidly.
And in his heart Moses became apprehensive. But We said (to him): “Have no fear! It is you who shall certainly prevail. Now throw that which is in your right hand and it shall swallow up all that they have wrought. For, they have wrought nothing but a sorcerer’s deceitful trick; and the sorcerer can never come to any good, whatever he may do.”
So down fell the sorcerers, prostrating themselves, and declared: “We do believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”
Said (Pharaoh): “Do you believe in him before I have given you permission? Surely, he must be your master who has taught you witchcraft! I shall most certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I shall most certainly crucify you on the trunks of the palm trees. You will then come to know for certain which of us can inflict a more severe and longer lasting punishment.
(Ta Ha: 20: 65-71)
We outlined over the last two weeks how Pharaoh challenged Moses to a match against his skillful sorcerers, and how he gathered the people of Egypt in a large arena to witness what he hoped for of a victory for his sorcerers. He promised the latter rich rewards if they could defeat Moses and his brother. When the stage was all set, the sorcerers were keen to be fair and offered Moses the choice to go first, but he preferred that they would begin, retaining for himself the last say. They threw their ropes and staffs to produce a bewildering piece of magic which filled all present, including Moses, with awe. Moses was apprehensive, despite the fact that he knew that his Lord was supporting him.
Needless to say, Moses would not have entertained any feeling of fear unless the whole thing was so awesome that he became for a moment oblivious to the fact that he was much stronger. Hence, he needed a reminder that he relies on a much superior power: “But We said (to him): Have no fear! It is you who shall certainly prevail.” You are the one supporting the truth, while they have nothing but falsehood. You have the faith, while they have their trick and craft. You believe in the truth of your message, while they have nothing but the reward they hope to receive from Pharaoh and the pleasures of this life. You are the one who derives his strength from God Almighty while they serve a human creature who will die despite all his tyrannical power.
Thus God reassures Moses telling him to have no fear. He further tells him: “Now throw that which is in your right hand.” What he has in his hand is left unspecified to give it an air of awe. “And it shall swallow up all that they have wrought.” For it is all sorcery and witchcraft. Certainly sorcerers will not achieve ultimate success, no matter what they do, what device they use or which way they follow. That is because sorcerers rely on trickery, and produce deception. There is no real substance in what they do. Hence they will fare no better than anyone who confronts the truth with false appearances. He may put up a majestic show and may inspire awe and fear. But then the power of the truth, steady, factual, unboastful, will strike and falsehood is immediately defeated, retreating into oblivion.
And Moses threw his staff to produce a huge surprise: “It shall swallow up all that they have wrought. For, they have wrought nothing but a sorcerer’s deceitful trick; and the sorcerer can never come to any good, whatever he may do.” The Surah describes the magnitude of the surprise by mentioning how it affected the sorcerers who came full of hope to win the challenge. Only a few moments earlier, they were encouraging and motivating one another, for their sorcery was of the highest standard, producing a feeling of fear among all spectators, including Moses himself. He, a messenger of God, thought that their ropes and staffs turned into snakes, alive and moving rapidly.
Now the surprise Moses produced has such an effect on them that brings about a complete transformation of their feelings and their thoughts. They cannot express this transformation by mere words. “So down fell the sorcerers, prostrating themselves, and declared: We do believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.” That was like a touch on a very raw nerve, and the whole body is shaken violently. It is like a light switch that brings about a bright flash of light, dispelling all darkness. That touch is felt by reawakened hearts, filling them in a split second with unmovable faith.
Would tyrants understand this inner interaction? Could they realize how hearts are transformed? With a long history of tyranny and injustice, during which they see their subordinates bow to their commands, hastening to fulfill their desire at the slightest indication, tyrants forget that it is God who changes hearts and minds. They cannot appreciate that when a hear opens up a contact with God, the bond is complete. The believer, then, derives strength and light from Him alone. Thus, no one can subjugate such a believer to his own power. Hence, Pharaoh’s reaction: “Do you believe in him before I have given you permission? Surely, he must be your master who has taught you witchcraft! I shall most certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I shall most certainly crucify you on the trunks of the palm trees. You will then come to know for certain which of us can inflict a more severe and longer lasting punishment.”
“Do you believe in him before I have given you permission?” That is the retort of a tyrant who cannot understand that, having felt faith touching their hearts, they themselves cannot turn it away. After all, people’s hearts are, as the Prophet says, held between two of God, the Merciful’s fingers and He turns them around as He wills.
“Surely, he must be your master who has taught you witchcraft!” To Pharaoh, that could only be the reason for the sorcerer’s submission to Moses. He could not have thought of faith touching their hearts. He could not understand that God’s hand has lifted the cover blurring their vision and that now they could clearly see things for what they are.
He follows that with the normal threat of tyrants when they feel they have no power over hearts and souls. They use their power to inflict physical torture and punishment on those who do not submit to their tyranny: “I shall most certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I shall most certainly crucify you on the trunks of the palm trees.” He follows that with boastful claims of authority and power. It is brutal, ready to tear human bodies apart. It is brute force utilized to counter solid argument: “You will then come to know for certain which of us can inflict a more severe and longer lasting punishment.”
What did the new believers say in reply to Pharaoh’s threat? We will find out next week, God willing.
