Where the story is told
The scene is told three times, and the verses complement each other.
- Quran 7:103-126 (Surah al-A'raf).
- Quran 20:56-76 (Surah Ta-Ha).
- Quran 26:34-51 (Surah ash-Shu'ara).
Before it, Musa had come to Pharaoh with the message of the Lord of the worlds and had shown him two signs, the staff that became a serpent and his hand that came out white and shining (7:104-108). The chiefs of Pharaoh's people said he was a learned magician who wanted to drive them from their land (7:109-110).
The gathering and the appointment
Pharaoh's court advised him to send gatherers to the cities to bring every skilled magician (7:111-112; 26:36-37). Surah Ta-Ha adds that Pharaoh challenged Musa to meet at a time and place which neither side would miss. Musa chose "the day of the festival", when people would gather at mid-morning (20:58-59). So the contest was set for a public day, in front of everyone.
When the magicians arrived, they asked Pharaoh whether they would have a reward if they won. He said yes, and that they would also be among those near to him (7:113-114; 26:41-42). The first thing they asked about was the reward.
Before the contest, Musa warned them not to invent a lie against Allah, or He would destroy them with a punishment (20:61). The verses say that they then disputed among themselves and spoke in secret (20:62).
The staffs and the ropes
The magicians asked Musa whether he would throw first or they would (7:115; 20:65). In Surah Ta-Ha he told them to throw first (20:66). In Surah ash-Shu'ara he said: throw whatever you will throw (26:43).
They threw their ropes and staffs and said, "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who are the predominant" (26:44). The verses say they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror in them (7:116), and that to Musa it seemed that the ropes and staffs were moving (20:66). Musa felt fear within himself (20:67).
Allah told him not to fear, because he was the superior one, and to throw what was in his right hand. It would swallow what they had made, which was only the trick of a magician, and a magician does not succeed wherever he goes (20:68-69). When Musa threw his staff, it devoured what they had falsified (7:117; 26:45).
Prostration and firm faith
The magicians were the first to understand. The Quran says that they fell down in prostration (7:120; 26:46) and said, in the meaning of the verses, that they believed in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Musa and Harun (Aaron) (7:121-122; 20:70; 26:47-48). They knew the limits of their art, so they recognized that this was not magic.
Pharaoh answered with anger. He said that they had believed before he gave permission, that this was a plot, and he threatened to cut off their hands and feet on opposite sides and to crucify them (7:123-124; 20:71; 26:49).
The magicians replied with a famous answer. In the meaning of Quran 20:72-73, they said: we will never prefer you over the clear proofs that came to us and over Him who created us, so decree whatever you decree, for you can only decree in this worldly life. We have believed in our Lord so that He may forgive our sins and what you forced us to do of magic.
Surah al-A'raf records their dua: وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنْ ءَامَنَّا بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًۭا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ The meaning is that Allah would pour patience upon them and let them die in submission to Him.
What the Quran does not tell us
The Quran does not give the number of the magicians, their names, or the place of the festival. Some later books mention numbers, but these are not in the Quran or in authentic hadith, so they are not stated here.
The Quran also does not narrate what Pharaoh did to them after their answer. Some commentators say that he carried out his threat, but this is not stated in the verses. What the verses preserve is their steadfastness. Surah Ta-Ha continues by saying that whoever comes to his Lord as a believer having done righteous deeds will have the highest degrees, gardens beneath which rivers flow (20:75-76).
Lessons from this story
- The truth can reach even those who came to oppose it. The magicians arrived for a reward and left as believers.
- Knowledge of one's field can lead to faith. The magicians knew magic well, so they could tell it apart from a sign of Allah.
- Fear of a tyrant becomes small when the heart knows Allah. They answered a death threat with "decree whatever you are to decree."
- Repentance wipes the past. They asked Allah to forgive the magic they had been forced to practice, and the Quran presents them as believers.
- Ask for patience and for a good end. Their final dua was to be given patience and to die in submission to Allah.
General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.