Surah TaHa ayat 71 Tafsir Quran 20:71

﴿قَالَ آمَنتُمْ لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِي جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَا أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَأَبْقَىٰ﴾
[ طه: 71]

20:71 [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."

Said he Pharaoh ‘Do you profess belief read a-āmantum pronouncing both hamzas or with the second changed to an alif in him before I myself give you permission? He is indeed your chief your teacher who taught you sorcery. I shall assuredly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides min khilāfin a circumstantial qualifier meaning ‘alternate hands and feet’ in other words the right hands and the left feet and I shall assuredly crucify you on the trunks of palm trees. And you shall then know which of us — meaning himself and the Lord of Moses — is harsher in inflicting chastisement and which of us is more lasting’ more enduring in sustaining opposition to him Moses.

Have you conformed your will said Pharaoh, to the will of the Ilah of Mussa before I permit you to do so! Indeed it is your chief who taught you magic has misled you. Therefore, you just wait. I will amputate your hands and feet on opposite sides and I will have you all crucified on the trunks of palm - trees, and you shall come to know which of us, can inflict punishment to a greater degree, agonizing, and more lasting to make you live in Hell on earth

Fir`awn's turning against the Magicians, His threatening Them and Their Reply Allah, the Exalted, informs of Fir`awn's disbelief, obstinance, transgression and haughtiness against the truth in favor of falsehood.
When he saw what he saw of the magnificent miracle and the great sign, and he saw those whose help he sought accept faith in the presence of all of the people, and he was absolutely defeated, he began to behave arrogantly and cast accusations.
He resorted to using his esteemed honor and might against the magicians.
He warned them and threatened them saying, ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُ ( Believe you in him (Musa )) This means, "Do you have faith in him" قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ( before I give you permission ) meaning, "I have not commanded you to do so, by which you have rebelled against me." Then he said a statement that he, the magicians and all creatures knew was a forgery and an utter lie. إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ ( Verily, he is your chief who has taught you magic. ) meaning "You all only took your magic from Musa and you have made an agreement with him against me and my subjects, that you would help him be victorious." Allah says in another Ayah, إِنَّ هَـذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُواْ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ( Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its people, but you shall come to know. ) 7:123 Then he began threatening them.
He said to them, فَلأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ مِّنْ خِلاَفٍ وَلأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ ( So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date palms, ) meaning, "I will certainly make an example of you, I will kill you in a public execution." Ibn `Abbas said, "Thus, he was the first person to ever do this ( public execution, crucifixion )." This was reported by Ibn Abi Hatim.
Concerning Allah's statement, وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَاباً وَأَبْقَى ( And you shall surely know which of us can give the severe and more lasting torment. ) This means, "You say that my people and I are astray and that you ( magicians ), Musa and his people are following correct guidance, but you will come to know who will be punished and remain punished." So when he attacked with this and threatened them, their souls eased them because of their belief in Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.
They exclaimed, قَالُواْ لَن نُّؤْثِرَكَ عَلَى مَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَـتِ ( They said: "We prefer you not over what have come to us of the clear signs..." ) meaning, "We do not chose you over the guidance and conviction that we have received.
" وَالَّذِى فَطَرَنَا ( and to Him (Allah ) Who created us.) It could be that they were swearing, "By He Who has created us." It also could be connected in meaning to the clear signs mentioned before it.
In this case it would mean, "We do not prefer you over our Originator and Creator, Who produced us from a beginning that was nothing.
He created us from clay ( or mud ).
Therefore, He alone deserves worship and humility and you do not ( Fir`awn )!" فَاقْضِ مَآ أَنتَ قَاضٍ ( So decree whatever you desire to decree, ) "Do whatever you wish and whatever your hands are able to achieve." إِنَّمَا تَقْضِى هَـذِهِ الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَآ ( for you can only decree (regarding ) this life of the world.) meaning, "You only have power in this world and it is a world that will come to an end.
Verily, we are hoping in the eternal abode." إِنَّآ آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَـيَـنَا ( Verily, we have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, ) "Whatever evils that we did." It specifically means, `which we were forced to do of magic, in order to oppose the sign of Allah and the miracle of His Prophet.' Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said concerning Allah's statement, وَمَآ أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ ( and the magic to which you compelled us. ) "Fir`awn took forty boys from the Children of Israel and commanded that they be taught magic at Al-Farama.
He said, `Teach them knowledge that no one in the land knows."' Ibn `Abbas then said, "They were of those who believed in Musa and they were of those who said, آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَـيَـنَا وَمَآ أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ ( We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. )" `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said the same.
Allah's statement, وَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى ( And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your reward, and more lasting. ) means, "He is better for us than you." وَأَبْقَى ( and more lasting. ) More lasting in reward than what you pro- mised us and made us aspire to.
It is apparent that Fir`awn ( may Allah curse him ) was bent upon their punishment, and that what he did to them was a mercy from Allah for them.
This is why Ibn `Abbas and others of the Salaf said, "They woke up in that morning as magicians, but they became witnesses of faith by the evening.
"

(20:71) Pharaoh said, "Have you believed in him before I gave you permission? Obviously, he is your master who has taught you sorcery. *45 Well, now I will have your hands and feet cut off on alternate sides *46 and crucify you on the trunks of palm-trees *47 then you shall know whose punishment is more terrible and tasting (mine or that of Moses). " *48

[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him before I meaning

*45) In VII : 123, it has been stated : " Indeed it was a plot you conspired in the city to ,deprive the rightful owners of their power. " Here the same thing has been further explained, as if to say, " It is not merely a plot between you and him but it appears that Moses is your master and leader.
You conspired beforehand that you would be defeated by your master in the encounter to prove that he was a Messenger who had shown the miracle of the staff to frustrate your magic and bring about a political revolution in the country.
"
*46) That is, " Right hand and left foot or via versa.
"
*47) This was a very cruel way of punishment in ancient times.
They fixed a long pole in the ground or used the trunk of a tree for this purpose.
Then a piece of wood was tied across it at the top.
Then the hands of the criminal were nailed on to it and he was left hanging there for hours to die a slow, painful death.

*48) This was the last trick played by Pharaoh to win the losing game.
He held out the threat of a cruel punishment in order to coerce them to admit that there really was a conspiracy between Prophet Moses and them against the kingdom.But the fortitude and determination of the magicians turned the tables on him.
The very fact that, they were ready to endure the terrible punishment proved to the world that they had sincerely believed in the Prophethood of Moses and that the charge of conspiracy was an impudent trick that had been invented as a device.

 

Fir`awn's turning against the Magicians, His threatening Them and Their Reply Allah, the Exalted, informs of Fir`awn's disbelief, obstinance, transgression and haughtiness against the truth in favor of falsehood.
When he saw what he saw of the magnificent miracle and the great sign, and he saw those whose help he sought accept faith in the presence of all of the people, and he was absolutely defeated, he began to behave arrogantly and cast accusations.
He resorted to using his esteemed honor and might against the magicians.
He warned them and threatened them saying, ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُ ( Believe you in him (Musa )) This means, "Do you have faith in him" قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ( before I give you permission ) meaning, "I have not commanded you to do so, by which you have rebelled against me." Then he said a statement that he, the magicians and all creatures knew was a forgery and an utter lie. إِنَّهُ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ الَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ السِّحْرَ ( Verily, he is your chief who has taught you magic. ) meaning "You all only took your magic from Musa and you have made an agreement with him against me and my subjects, that you would help him be victorious." Allah says in another Ayah, إِنَّ هَـذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُواْ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ( Surely, this is a plot which you have plotted in the city to drive out its people, but you shall come to know. ) 7:123 Then he began threatening them.
He said to them, فَلأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ مِّنْ خِلاَفٍ وَلأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ النَّخْلِ ( So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date palms, ) meaning, "I will certainly make an example of you, I will kill you in a public execution." Ibn `Abbas said, "Thus, he was the first person to ever do this ( public execution, crucifixion )." This was reported by Ibn Abi Hatim.
Concerning Allah's statement, وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَاباً وَأَبْقَى ( And you shall surely know which of us can give the severe and more lasting torment. ) This means, "You say that my people and I are astray and that you ( magicians ), Musa and his people are following correct guidance, but you will come to know who will be punished and remain punished." So when he attacked with this and threatened them, their souls eased them because of their belief in Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.
They exclaimed, قَالُواْ لَن نُّؤْثِرَكَ عَلَى مَا جَآءَنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَـتِ ( They said: "We prefer you not over what have come to us of the clear signs..." ) meaning, "We do not chose you over the guidance and conviction that we have received.
" وَالَّذِى فَطَرَنَا ( and to Him (Allah ) Who created us.) It could be that they were swearing, "By He Who has created us." It also could be connected in meaning to the clear signs mentioned before it.
In this case it would mean, "We do not prefer you over our Originator and Creator, Who produced us from a beginning that was nothing.
He created us from clay ( or mud ).
Therefore, He alone deserves worship and humility and you do not ( Fir`awn )!" فَاقْضِ مَآ أَنتَ قَاضٍ ( So decree whatever you desire to decree, ) "Do whatever you wish and whatever your hands are able to achieve." إِنَّمَا تَقْضِى هَـذِهِ الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَآ ( for you can only decree (regarding ) this life of the world.) meaning, "You only have power in this world and it is a world that will come to an end.
Verily, we are hoping in the eternal abode." إِنَّآ آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَـيَـنَا ( Verily, we have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, ) "Whatever evils that we did." It specifically means, `which we were forced to do of magic, in order to oppose the sign of Allah and the miracle of His Prophet.' Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said concerning Allah's statement, وَمَآ أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ ( and the magic to which you compelled us. ) "Fir`awn took forty boys from the Children of Israel and commanded that they be taught magic at Al-Farama.
He said, `Teach them knowledge that no one in the land knows."' Ibn `Abbas then said, "They were of those who believed in Musa and they were of those who said, آمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغْفِرَ لَنَا خَطَـيَـنَا وَمَآ أَكْرَهْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السِّحْرِ ( We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. )" `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said the same.
Allah's statement, وَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى ( And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your reward, and more lasting. ) means, "He is better for us than you." وَأَبْقَى ( and more lasting. ) More lasting in reward than what you pro- mised us and made us aspire to.
It is apparent that Fir`awn ( may Allah curse him ) was bent upon their punishment, and that what he did to them was a mercy from Allah for them.
This is why Ibn `Abbas and others of the Salaf said, "They woke up in that morning as magicians, but they became witnesses of faith by the evening.
"

( Pharaoh ) said) to them: ( Ye put faith in him before I give you leave ) you believed in him before I commanded you to do so. ( Lo! he is ) i.e. Moses ( your chief ) the most erudite of you ( who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately ) the right hand with the left leg, ( and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm-trees, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment ) me or the Lord of Moses and Aaron.

[Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] said: "Believe you in him [Musa (Moses)] before I give you permission? Verily! He is your chief who taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of date-palms, and you shall surely know which of us [I (Fir'aun - Pharaoh) or the Lord of Musa (Moses) (Allah)] can give the severe and more lasting torment."

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