26. Shuara · verses 33–41

وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُۥ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيۡضَآءُ لِلنَّٰظِرِينَ

WanazaAAa yadahu faitha hiya baydao lilnnathireena

And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders!

قَالَ لِلۡمَلَإِ حَوۡلَهُۥٓ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٞ

Qala lilmalai hawlahu inna hatha lasahirun AAaleemun

(Pharaoh) said to the Chiefs around him: "This is indeed a sorcerer well-versed:

يُرِيدُ أَن يُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِكُم بِسِحۡرِهِۦ فَمَاذَا تَأۡمُرُونَ

Yureedu an yukhrijakum min ardikum bisihrihi famatha tamuroona

"His plan is to get you out of your land by his sorcery; then what is it ye counsel?"

قَالُوٓاْ أَرۡجِهۡ وَأَخَاهُ وَٱبۡعَثۡ فِي ٱلۡمَدَآئِنِ حَٰشِرِينَ

Qaloo arjih waakhahu waibAAath fee almadaini hashireena

They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while), and dispatch to the Cities heralds to collect-

يَأۡتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٖ

Yatooka bikulli sahharin AAaleemin

"And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed."

فَجُمِعَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ لِمِيقَٰتِ يَوۡمٖ مَّعۡلُومٖ

FajumiAAa alssaharatu limeeqati yawmin maAAloomin

So the sorcerers were got together for the appointment of a day well-known,

وَقِيلَ لِلنَّاسِ هَلۡ أَنتُم مُّجۡتَمِعُونَ

Waqeela lilnnasi hal antum mujtamiAAoona

And the people were told: "Are ye (now) assembled?-

لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ ٱلسَّحَرَةَ إِن كَانُواْ هُمُ ٱلۡغَٰلِبِينَ

LaAAallana nattabiAAu alssaharata in kanoo humu alghalibeena

"That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?"

فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ قَالُواْ لِفِرۡعَوۡنَ أَئِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجۡرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحۡنُ ٱلۡغَٰلِبِينَ

Falamma jaa alssaharatu qaloo lifirAAawna ainna lana laajran in kunna nahnu alghalibeena

So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Pharaoh: "Of course - shall we have a (suitable) reward if we win?