فَتَنازَعوا أَمرَهُم بَينَهُم وَأَسَرُّوا النَّجوىٰ

So they disputed over their affair among themselves and concealed their private conversation.

قالوا إِن هـٰذانِ لَساحِرانِ يُريدانِ أَن يُخرِجاكُم مِن أَرضِكُم بِسِحرِهِما وَيَذهَبا بِطَريقَتِكُمُ المُثلىٰ

They said, "Indeed, these are two magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your most exemplary way.

فَأَجمِعوا كَيدَكُم ثُمَّ ائتوا صَفًّا ۚ وَقَد أَفلَحَ اليَومَ مَنِ استَعلىٰ

So resolve upon your plan and then come [forward] in line. And he has succeeded today who overcomes."

قالوا يا موسىٰ إِمّا أَن تُلقِيَ وَإِمّا أَن نَكونَ أَوَّلَ مَن أَلقىٰ

They said, "O Moses, either you throw or we will be the first to throw."

قالَ بَل أَلقوا ۖ فَإِذا حِبالُهُم وَعِصِيُّهُم يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيهِ مِن سِحرِهِم أَنَّها تَسعىٰ

He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes].

قُلنا لا تَخَف إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الأَعلىٰ

Allah said, "Fear not. Indeed, it is you who are superior.

وَأَلقِ ما في يَمينِكَ تَلقَف ما صَنَعوا ۖ إِنَّما صَنَعوا كَيدُ ساحِرٍ ۖ وَلا يُفلِحُ السّاحِرُ حَيثُ أَتىٰ

And throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted. What they have crafted is but the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he is."

فَأُلقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سُجَّدًا قالوا آمَنّا بِرَبِّ هارونَ وَموسىٰ

So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses."

قالَ آمَنتُم لَهُ قَبلَ أَن آذَنَ لَكُم ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكَبيرُكُمُ الَّذي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيدِيَكُم وَأَرجُلَكُم مِن خِلافٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُم في جُذوعِ النَّخلِ وَلَتَعلَمُنَّ أَيُّنا أَشَدُّ عَذابًا وَأَبقىٰ

[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring."

قالوا لَن نُؤثِرَكَ عَلىٰ ما جاءَنا مِنَ البَيِّناتِ وَالَّذي فَطَرَنا ۖ فَاقضِ ما أَنتَ قاضٍ ۖ إِنَّما تَقضي هـٰذِهِ الحَياةَ الدُّنيا

They said, "Never will we prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs and [over] He who created us. So decree whatever you are to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life.