10. Surah Yunus

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.

Other versions:

10: 75 [Yunus, Mecca 51]

Yusuf Ali Then after them sent We Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our Signs. But they were arrogant: they were a people in sin.

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

Yusuf Ali When the Truth did come to them from Us they said: "This is indeed evident sorcery!"

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!”

Yusuf Ali Said Moses: "Say ye (this) about the Truth when it hath (actually) reached you? In sorcery (like) this? But sorcerers will not prosper."

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).