26. Shuara · verses 40–52

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?

قَالَ نَعَمۡ وَإِنَّكُمۡ إِذٗا لَّمِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ

Qala naAAam wainnakum ithan lamina almuqarrabeena

He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)."

قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰٓ أَلۡقُواْ مَآ أَنتُم مُّلۡقُونَ

Qala lahum moosa alqoo ma antum mulqoona

Moses said to them: "Throw ye - that which ye are about to throw!"

فَأَلۡقَوۡاْ حِبَالَهُمۡ وَعِصِيَّهُمۡ وَقَالُواْ بِعِزَّةِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّا لَنَحۡنُ ٱلۡغَٰلِبُونَ

Faalqaw hibalahum waAAisiyyahum waqaloo biAAizzati firAAawna inna lanahnu alghaliboona

So they threw their ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win!"

فَأَلۡقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَلۡقَفُ مَا يَأۡفِكُونَ

Faalqa moosa AAasahu faitha hiya talqafu ma yafikoona

Then Moses threw his rod, when, behold, it straightway swallows up all the falsehoods which they fake!

فَأُلۡقِيَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سَٰجِدِينَ

Faolqiya alssaharatu sajideena

Then did the sorcerers fall down, prostrate in adoration,

قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

Qaloo amanna birabbi alAAalameena

Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,

رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ

Rabbi moosa waharoona

"The Lord of Moses and Aaron."

قَالَ ءَامَنتُمۡ لَهُۥ قَبۡلَ أَنۡ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمۡۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحۡرَ فَلَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَۚ لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيۡدِيَكُمۡ وَأَرۡجُلَكُم مِّنۡ خِلَٰفٖ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ

Qala amantum lahu qabla an athana lakum innahu lakabeerukumu allathee AAallamakumu alssihra falasawfa taAAlamoona laoqattiAAanna aydiyakum waarjulakum min khilafin walaosallibannakum ajmaAAeena

Said (Pharaoh): "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? surely he is your leader, who has taught you sorcery! but soon shall ye know! Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross!"

قَالُواْ لَا ضَيۡرَۖ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ

Qaloo la dayra inna ila rabbina munqaliboona

They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord!

إِنَّا نَطۡمَعُ أَن يَغۡفِرَ لَنَا رَبُّنَا خَطَٰيَٰنَآ أَن كُنَّآ أَوَّلَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

Inna natmaAAu an yaghfira lana rabbuna khatayana an kunna awwala almumineena

"Only, our desire is that our Lord will forgive us our faults, that we may become foremost among the believers!"

۞ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنۡ أَسۡرِ بِعِبَادِيٓ إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ

Waawhayna ila moosa an asri biAAibadee innakum muttabaAAoona

By inspiration we told Moses: "Travel by night with my servants; for surely ye shall be pursued."