Stories of Wisdom

Ref: Nasim-e-Sahar, Page 39 — 22nd Nov 1976 / Zilhaj 1396

Pharaoh (Arabic: Firaun) believed that Prophet Moses and Aaron (PBUH) possessed magical powers. He asked his courtiers whether they too were skilled magicians. In reality, Moses and Aaron were men of God—what they possessed was divinely revealed knowledge and miraculous power, not magic. Magic is rooted in evil; their power came from truth.

A believer named Hazkil from Pharaoh’s own family—who kept his faith secret—objected to Pharaoh’s plan to kill them. He asked: “Do you want to kill someone simply because he says, ‘My Lord is the Lord of the universe’?”

Instead of killing them immediately, the courtiers suggested summoning Egypt’s most reputed magicians to publicly defeat Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh agreed. Egypt, under Pharaoh, had been actively funding the study of magic. Children of Israel were trained under senior magicians for this confrontation.

When the magicians were fully trained, Pharaoh set a public festival day for the showdown. Some reports say 70,000 magicians were reduced to 70 elite ones, including two renowned brothers from Madyan (near modern-day Baghdad).

Before leaving, the brothers visited their father's grave and asked what they should do. A voice from the grave responded: “Try to take Moses’s staff while he sleeps. If it functions on its own, know it is divine, not magic.” They tried to steal the staff but saw it active even while Moses slept. Fearing God, they retreated.

The confrontation happened in an open field filled with citizens. The magicians asked Pharaoh what reward they’d receive if victorious. Pharaoh promised honor and high status.

Prophet Moses warned them: “Do not fabricate lies against God. His punishment is severe.” The magicians hesitated—no magician would speak such divine warnings.

They asked: “Should we begin, or will you?”

Moses replied calmly: “You begin.”

They threw down 70 camel-loads of sticks and ropes, which turned into attacking snakes. People fled. Pharaoh trembled. Moses and Aaron were momentarily uneasy, but God reassured Moses: “Throw down your staff.”

Moses did so. His staff became a giant serpent—larger than a camel—with fire in its eyes and wind in its breath. It consumed all other snakes, burned trees and tents, and terrified the crowd. Pharaoh fled. People were trampled in the panic—25,000 reportedly injured.

The magicians fell in prostration and proclaimed:

These 72 magicians, aged and knowledgeable, recognized the divine truth. Their transformation was like that of the martyrs of Karbala—who, in one day, went from denial to belief to martyrdom.

Pharaoh was enraged: “How dare you believe without my permission!” He sentenced them to death—cutting off hands and feet on opposite sides and crucifying them. The magicians responded with patience and faith:

These magicians began the day as unbelievers, ended it as believers, and died as martyrs. They transitioned from Hell to the highest ranks of Heaven. Their strength of faith reminds us of the martyrs of Karbala who followed Imam Hussain (A.S.), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), choosing death over falsehood and injustice.

— Narrated by Hunaid