10. Surah Yunus, Mecca 51

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِم مُّوسَى وَهَارُونَ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ بِآيَاتِنَا...   

10: 75.  Then after them sent We Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our Signs.

C1461. The story of Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh is fully told in 7:103-137, and there are references to it in many places in the Quran.

The incidental reference here is to illustrate a special point, viz., that

-        the wicked are arrogant and bound up in their sin, and prefer deception to Truth:

-        they do not hesitate to charge the men of Allah, who work unselfishly for them, with mean motives, such as would actuate them in similar circumstances!

...فَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ ﴿٧٥﴾

But they were arrogant: they were a people in sin.

فَلَمَّا جَاءهُمُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُواْ إِنَّ هَـذَا لَسِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٧٦﴾

10: 76.  When the Truth did come to them from Us, they said:

"This is indeed evident sorcery!"

قَالَ مُوسَى أَتقُولُونَ لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءكُمْ أَسِحْرٌ هَـذَا...   

10: 77.  Said Moses:

"Say ye (this) about the Truth when it hath (actually) reached you?

Is sorcery (like) this?

...وَلاَ يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُونَ ﴿٧٧﴾

But sorcerers will not prosper."

C1462. Sorcery is the very opposite of Truth, being deception of plausible shows by the powers of evil. But these cannot succeed or last permanently, and Truth must ultimately prevail.

قَالُواْ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَلْفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءنَا...   

10: 78.  They said:

"Hast thou come to us to turn us a way from the ways We found our fathers following --

...وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا الْكِبْرِيَاء فِي الأَرْضِ ...

in order that thou and thy brother may have greatness in the land?

C1463. Notice how they attribute evil motives to the men of Allah, motives of ambition and lust of power, which the men of Allah had been sent expressly to put down.

The same device was used against Al-Mustafa.

... وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٧٨﴾

But not we shall believe in you!"

وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ائْتُونِي بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ ﴿٧٩﴾

10: 79.  Said Pharaoh: "Bring me every sorcerer well-versed."

فَلَمَّا جَاء السَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَى أَلْقُواْ مَا أَنتُم مُّلْقُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾

10: 80.  When the sorcerers came, Moses said to them:

"Throw ye what ye (wish) to throw!"

فَلَمَّا أَلْقَواْ قَالَ مُوسَى ...

10: 81.  When they had their throw, Moses said:

C1464. When they threw their rods, the rods became snakes by a trick of sorcery, but Moses' miracles were greater than any tricks of sorcery, and had real Truth behind them.

... مَا جِئْتُم بِهِ السِّحْرُ...

"What ye have brought is sorcery:

...إِنَّ اللّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُ...

Allah will surely make it of no effect:

...إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٨١﴾

for Allah prospereth not the work of those who make mischief.

وَيُحِقُّ اللّهُ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾

10: 82.  "And Allah by His Words doth prove and establish His truth, however much the Sinners may hate it!"

C1465. Allah's Words or Commands have real power, while Sorcerers' tricks only seem wonderful by deceiving the eye.

Pickthall’s Version:

10: 75

Pickthall Then, after them, We sent Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our revelations, but they were arrogant and were a guilty folk.

Transliteration Summa ba'asna_ mim ba'dihim mu_sa_ wa ha_ru_na ila_ fir'auna wa mala'ihi bi a_ya_tina_ fa-stakbaru_ wa ka_nu_ qaumam mujrimin(a).

10: 76

Pickthall And when the Truth from Our presence came unto them, they said: This is mere magic.

Transliteration Falamma_ ja_'ahumul haqqu min 'indina_ qa_lu_ inna ha_za_ lasihrum mubin(un).

10: 77

Asad …..But sorcerers can never come to a happy end!”

Pickthall Moses said: Speak ye (so) of the Truth when it hath come unto you? Is this magic? Now magicians thrive not.

Transliteration Qa_la mu_sa_ ataqu_lu_na lil haqqi lamma_ ja_'akum, asihrun ha_za_, wa la_ yuflihus sa_hiru_n(a).