The magicians: Changing direction

Pharaoh rejects the signs shown to him and accuses Moses of wanting to drive him out of his land with sorcery. Preparations are made to meet on an appointed day. After debating among themselves, the sorcerers combine their powers. The encounter turns into a visible display of power organized by Pharaoh.

The sorcerers ask whether they should cast first or if Moses should. When they cast their ropes and staffs, they appear to Moses as if they are moving, and he feels fear within himself. He is told not to fear and is commanded to throw what is in his hand. It is explained that this will swallow the deceptive trick they have prepared.

Upon seeing what they witnessed, the sorcerers fall down in prostration, declaring their belief in the Lord of Aaron and Moses. Pharaoh meets their belief without his permission with threats and tries to frighten them with severe punishments. They declare that they will not turn away from the clear proofs they have seen and from their Creator; they express their hope for forgiveness.

The passage concludes with statements regarding the condition of those who disbelieve and those who reach their Lord through faith. The changing attitude of the sorcerers in this encounter describes how they stand by the truth they realized rather than continuing their previous duties. In this selected section, the Quran does not explain in detail how the threats were later carried out; the account remains within the limits of the information provided here.