(82) “Allah establishes the truth by His words, even though the wicked may hate it.” The magicians then fell down in prostration when the truth became clear to them. Pharaoh threatened to crucify them and cut off their hands and feet, but they paid no heed to this and remained steadfast in their faith.

As for Pharaoh, his chiefs, and their followers, not one of them believed. Rather, they persisted in their tyranny, wandering blindly.

Hence He said, “None believed in Moses except some youths among his people”—that is, young people from the Children of Israel who endured their fear because faith had taken firm root in their hearts.

“They were in fear of Pharaoh and their chiefs, lest they persecute them” and turn them away from their religion. “Indeed, Pharaoh was tyrannical in the land”—that is, he held sway and dominance there, so they had good reason to fear his violent retribution.

“And”—particularly—“he was indeed one of the transgressors,” meaning those who exceed all bounds in tyranny and aggression.

The wisdom—and Allah knows best—in the fact that none believed in Moses except some youths among his people is that the young are more receptive to the truth and quicker to submit to it. This is unlike the elderly and others who have been raised upon disbelief: because corrupt beliefs have long remained embedded in their hearts, they are further removed from the truth than others.