Ash-Shu'araa (The Poets)

43. “Moses said to them: ‘Cast what you are going to Cast’.”

44. “So they cast down their ropes and their rods, and said: ‘By Pharaoh’s dignity we shall certainly be the victors’.”

The men of Allah believe in the victory of divine truth and nothingness of wizardry and, when they are in such a condition, they speak calmly and powerfully not weakly and with fear.

When the wizards reached agreement with Pharaoh, who promised them the reward of nearness to him and they becam assured and hopeful, they went to make the necessary things ready. They gathered many ropes and staffs which apparently they hollowed out and filled with a special chemical material (such as mercury) which is liquid and light when the sun shines on it.

Finally the promised day came and a lot of people gathered in that place in order to witness that historical struggle. Pharaoh, his companions and the wizards were on one side and Moses (as) and his brother Aaron were on the other side.

But, as it is the custom of the holy Qur’an, these secondary matters, which are understood from later discussions, here are omitted, and it brings up the main subject.

Now it depicts this fateful scene as the Qur’an says:

“Moses said to them: ‘Cast what you are going to cast’.”

It is understood from verse 115 of Surah Al-’A‘raf, No. 7 that Moses (as) said this sentence when the wizards told him:

“...‘O Moses! Will you throw or shall we be the (first) throwers?’”

This proposition that Moses (as) offered originated from his self-assurance of victory and his calmness and indifference when he was before a lot of foes and Pharaoh exponents.

This was the first hit on the wizards and showed that Moses (as) was especially psychologically calm and, facing with the great mass of enemies and the obstinate advocator of Pharaoh, he was assured and hopeful.

The wizards, who were conceited and very proud, started their job.

As the verse says:

“So they cast down their ropes and their rods, and said: ‘By Pharaoh’s dignity we shall certainly be the victors’.”

Yes, like all sycophants, they also started with the name of Pharaoh and relied on his unreal power. At this time, as the holy Qur’an has mentioned in other verses, the ropes and staffs moved like big and small snakes.¹

They had intentionally selected some means of their own wizardry from staffs for they thought they could compete with the staff of Moses (as), and they added ropes to prove that they are stronger.

At this time, people cried joyfully and happily and Pharaoh and his companions became so hopeful that they could not contain themselves for joy. By looking at this pleasant scene, they got very happy.