Prophet Mūsā: Part 2 — The Calling and the Magicians Who Believed
Section 33 of 36 · Lives of the Prophets
Before I Gave You Permission
قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَأَبْقَىٰ
“He (Pharaoh) said, “You have believed in him before I permit you. This man is in fact your master who has taught you the magic. So I will certainly cut off your hands and your legs from opposite sides, and will crucify you on the trunks of palm-trees, and you shall know whose punishment, out of us, is more severe and more lasting.”” (20:71)
Firʿawn said: you believed in him before I gave you permission? Look at how much control Firʿawn had over people. He even wants them to take permission from him when they want to become Muslim. You have to get permission — a permit — to believe in Mūsā. That is how much control Firʿawn had over the lives of people.
Firʿawn said: he is your teacher. Mūsā is your chief, who taught you magic. And then he threatened them and said: I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will surely crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you shall surely know which of us can give the more severe and more lasting torment.
قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
“Pharaoh said, “You have believed in him before my permission. Undoubtedly, this is a plot you have designed in the city, so that you may expel its people from it. Now you shall know (its end).” (7:123)
And then notice what Firʿawn said. Firʿawn said: you have believed in him before I gave you permission; this is a plot which you have plotted in the city, to drive its people out of it. A blunt lie. He said: this is a conspiracy between you and Mūsā, which you agreed upon in the town before you came here. You were conspiring with Mūsā before you came here.