Pharaoh said to the nobles around him: "Surely this man is a skilled magician 34 who seeks to expel you from your land by his sorcery. What is your counsel' 35 They said: "Put him off and his brother (for a while), and send callers to the cities 36 who shall bring to you every skilful sorcerer." 37 So the magicians were gathered at a set time on a day appointed. 38 The people were asked, 'Will you assemble? 39 in order that we shall follow the sorcerers if they are the victors' 40 So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Pharaoh: "Of course - shall we have a (suitable) reward if we win? 41 He said: yea; and ye shall verily then be of those brought nigh. 42 Musa said unto them: cast whatsoever ye have to cast. 43 So they cast their ropes and their staffs, and said, 'By the might of Pharaoh we shall be the victors.' 44 Then Musa (Moses) threw his stick, and behold, it swallowed up all the falsehoods which they showed! 45 So the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allah]. 46 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). 47 The Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 He (Pharaoh) said: 'You have believed him before I have given you permission. He is the chief of you who has taught you sorcery. But you shall know. I will surely cut off on opposite sides a hand and a foot, and crucify you all.' 49 They said: "No matter! for us, we shall but return to our Lord! 50 and we surely expect that Our Lord will forgive us our sins for we are the first ones to believe." 51