The Holy Quran 20:66 — Surah Taha

Arabic text

قَالَ بَلْ أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِن سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَىٰ

Translation

He (Moosa عليه الصلاة والسلام) replied, “You rather throw (first)." Then (when they threw) their ropes and their staffs suddenly seemed to appear like slithering (living) snakes to him (Moosa عليه الصلاة والسلام) on account of their magic. (The magicians merely made everyone think that there were snakes whereas these were only illusions.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The beginning of the contest: Musa ﵇ replied with complete unconcern: “No, you first give vent to your ambitions and show your tricks”, so that, after falsehood had tested its strength, the supremacy of truth would become fully manifest. This story has already passed in Surah Al-A'raf; the commentary there should be consulted.

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