They said: ‘Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds to all cities to bring before you every sorcerer of great skill.
So the sorcerers were assembled at a set time on an appointed day, and the people were asked: ‘Are you all present,’ so that we may follow the sorcerers if they emerge triumphant.’
When the sorcerers arrived they said to Pharaoh: ‘Will there be a (handsome) reward for us if we are the ones to prevail?’
Said he: ‘Yes, indeed! And in that case you will be among those who are close to me.’ Moses said to them: ‘Throw whatever you are going to throw!’
So they threw their ropes and staffs, and said: ‘By Pharaoh’s might, it is we indeed who will prevail.’ Then Moses threw his staff, and it swallowed up their false devices. (The Poets: Al-Shu’ara: 26: 36-45)
When Pharaoh realized that he lost the argument with Moses, and that the miraculous evidence Moses provided was too powerful to resist, he reverted to well-known tactics used by tyrants everywhere. “He said to the noble ones around him: This is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge who wants to drive you out of your land by his sorcery. What, then, do you advise?” We note in his statement three important elements:
1) His acknowledgement of the powerful miracle, even though he called it sorcery;
2) He tries to raise his people against Moses, saying that he “wants to drive you out of your land”;
3) He adopts a conciliatory attitude requesting advice from the very people whom he despised, claiming lordship over them.
Those around him fell for his ploy because they shared his falsehood and were keen for the status quo to continue as it ensured that they would continue to have influential positions in the state hierarchy. They feared that Moses and the children of Israel would take their land from them, should the masses follow them after seeing Moses’ miracles and listening to him. Hence, those noble chiefs were quick to give their advice to Pharaoh, suggesting that he could match one type of sorcery with another, provided he should have a period of preparation. “They said: Let him and his brother wait a while, and send heralds to all cities to bring before you every sorcerer of great skill.” The plan, then, was to gain time while Pharaoh would send to all Egyptian cities summoning every skilful sorcerer for a match with Moses.
The curtains drop here. When they are raised again we see the sorcerers assembled and the people gathering in large numbers to watch the great match. Their feelings of support for the sorcerers are raised to a high pitch, for theirs was the side that enjoyed the backing of those who were in power. Thus, the stage was ready for the great contest between truth and falsehood, divine faith and tyranny: “So the sorcerer were assembled at a set time on an appointed day, and the people were asked: Are you all present, so that we may follow the sorcerers if they emerge triumphant.”
The style used in these verses suggests a deliberate plan to excite the masses and keep people in full expectation: “Are you all present, so that we may follow the sorcerers?” Why do you not attend, all of you, and be at the stage on time? You will see with your own eyes how the sorcerers will defeat this Israelite called Moses! On such occasions, the masses always flock in, oblivious of the fact that the tyrannical rulers are manipulating them to their own ends. They bring them into such gatherings and show occasions to divert their attentions from their miserable conditions and the oppression they are enduring. At the time, the Egyptian masses flocked in to witness the match between Moses, God’s messenger (peace be upon him), and the sorcerers.
We then see the sorcerers in audience with Pharaoh, prior to the match, making sure that they will have a reward if they win. He is ready with a promise of a very handsome reward, and a position close to his throne: “When the sorcerers arrived they said to Pharaoh: ‘Will there be a (handsome) reward for us if we are the ones to prevail?’ Said he: ‘Yes, indeed! And in that case you will be among those who are close to me.’”
Thus the whole thing involves nothing other than a mercenary group ready to use their skills to help Pharaoh, the tyrant, in return for some pecuniary reward. There is no question of faith or issue of principle. It is all about personal gain and interests. It is such people that are used by tyrants everywhere and in all periods of history. This is the reason for their eagerness to make sure of the reward they will be receiving for their role in deluding the masses, and it is also the reason why Pharaoh promises them much more than the pecuniary reward. He promises them a position close to his own.
The surah then draws before our eyes the entire scene of the match and the great events that follow: “Moses said to them: ‘Throw whatever you are going to throw!’ So they threw their ropes and staffs, and said: ‘By Pharaoh’s might, it is we indeed who will prevail.’ Then Moses threw his staff, and it swallowed up their false devices. The sorcerers fell down prostrating themselves, and said: ‘We believe in the Lord of all the worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron. (Pharaoh) said: ‘You believe in Him even before I have given you permission! Surely, this one must be your master who has taught you witchcraft! But in time you shall come to know. I shall most certainly have your hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, and I shall most certainly crucify you all.’ They said: ‘No harm (can you cause us). To our Lord we shall indeed return. We certainly hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, since we are the first who have believed.”
We will comment on the match and the following events next week, God willing.
