⦗79⦘ “Pharaoh said,” opposing the truth that Moses had brought and misleading (1) his chiefs and people, “Bring me every learned magician”—that is, every magician highly skilled and proficient in magic. He therefore sent throughout the cities of Egypt, and men brought him magicians of every kind, from their various groups and ranks.

“When the magicians came” to compete with Moses (2), “Moses said to them, ‘Cast whatever you intend to cast.’” That is: Cast anything you wish; I will not specify anything for you. He said this because he was certain of victory and paid no heed to them or to what they had brought.

“When they cast” their ropes and staffs, they suddenly appeared to be snakes slithering about. “Moses said, ‘What you have produced is magic’”—that is, this is indeed formidable magic. Yet despite its magnitude, “Allah will surely bring it to nothing. Indeed, Allah does not set right the work of corrupters.” They sought thereby to make falsehood triumph over truth—and what corruption could be greater than this?!

And so it is with every corrupter who undertakes some work, devises a stratagem, or employs deceit: his work will be nullified and fade away. Even if it gains currency for a time, its ultimate end is to vanish and be utterly effaced.

As for the reformers, whose aim in their deeds is the Countenance of Allah Most High, and whose deeds and means are beneficial and commanded, Allah sets their works aright, elevates them, and continually causes them to grow. Moses then cast down his staff, and it swallowed up everything they had fashioned. Their magic was thus nullified and their falsehood vanished.