۞ We created you from it (the earth), and to it We shall restore you; and from it We will bring you forth yet a second time. 55 And assuredly We shewed him Our signs, all of them, but he belied and refused. 56 He said, "Have you come to us to turn us out of our land by means of your magic, Moses? 57 "Then verily, we can produce magic the like thereof; so appoint a meeting between us and you, which neither we, nor you shall fail to keep, in an open wide place where both shall have a just and equal chance (and beholders could witness the competition)." 58 Musa said: your appointment is the gala day, and that the people be gathered in the forenoon. 59 So Pharaoh withdrew and gathered his guile, then returned, 60 Moosa said to them, “Ruin is to you – do not fabricate a lie against Allah, that He may destroy you by a punishment; and indeed one who fabricates lies has failed.” 61 So they debated among themselves as to what to do; but they kept their counsel secret, 62 and said, "These two people are magicians. They want to expel you from your land through their magic and to destroy your own tradition. 63 So prepare your strategy and come forward. He alone shall win today who is superior." 64 They said: O Moses! Either throw first, or let us be the first to throw? 65 Moses said, "You throw down first." Suddenly their ropes and staffs appeared to him, by their magic, to be moving about rapidly, 66 And Moses felt afraid within himself. 67 We (Allah) said: "Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand. 68 And cast down what is in your right hand; it shall devour what they have wrought; they have wrought only the plan of a magician, and the magician shall not be successful wheresoever he may come from. 69 And the sorcerers cast themselves down prostrating. 'We believe,' they said, 'in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.' 70 The Pharaoh said, "Since you believed in him without my permission, then Moses certainly must be your chief who has taught you magic. I shall cut your hands and feet on alternate sides and crucify you on the trunk of the palm-tree. You shall certainly find which among us can afflict a more severe and lasting punishment". 71 They said, 'We will not prefer thee over the clear signs that have come to us, nor over Him who originated us. Decide then what thou wilt decide; thou canst only decide touching this present life. 72 Verily we! we have believed in our Lord, that he may forgive us our faults, and that to which thou hast constrained us in the way of magic; and Allah is Best and Most Lasting. 73 Verily whosoever cometh unto his lord as a culprit, for him is Hell wherein he will neither die nor live. 74 But whoever comes to Him as a believer having done righteous deeds - for those will be the highest degrees [in position]: 75 and shall live for ever in everlasting Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Such will be the reward of those who purify themselves. 76