(Firon) said to the chiefs around him: Most surely this is a skillful magician, 34 He would drive you out of your land through his magic; what then is it ye command? 35 They said: "Detain him and his brother for a while and send forth heralds to the cities 36 who shall assemble before thee all sorcerers of great knowledge" 37 The sorcerers were gathered at the appointed time on a wellknown day, 38 and the people were told: "Will you join the assembly? 39 Belike we may follow the magicians if they are the winners? 40 And when the magicians came, they said to Firon: Shall we get a reward if we are the vanquishers? 41 He said, 'Yes indeed; and you shall then be among the near-stationed.' 42 (Moses) asked the magicians, "Cast down what you want to". 43 So they cast their ropes and rods, and said: "By the glory of Pharaoh, we shall be victorious." 44 Then Moses threw down his staff, and it swallowed up all that they had conjured into being. 45 Thereupon the magicians fell down in prostration, 46 Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 47 the Sustainer of Moses and Aaron!" 48 Pharaoh said: "You accepted the word of Moses even before I granted you the leave to do so. Surely he is your chief who has taught you magic. Soon shall you come to know. I shall cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and shall crucify all of you." 49 They said: "No harm! Surely, to our Lord (Allah) we are to return; 50 We hope our Lord will forgive us, as we are the first of the believers." 51