۞ From the earth We have created you and We will return you to it, and from it We shall bring you forth a second time. 55 So We showed him (Pharaoh) Our signs, all of them, but he belied and refused them. 56 He said: art thou come unto us that thou mayest drive us out of our land by thy magic, O Musa! 57 So We shall surely bring unto thee a magic the like thereof; so Make between us and thee an appointment which neither we nor thou shall fail in some open space. 58 Musa said: your appointment is the gala day, and that the people be gathered in the forenoon. 59 Thereupon Pharaoh withdrew [with his counsellors] and decided upon the scheme which he would pursue; and then he came [to the tryst]. 60 Musa said unto them: woe unto you! fabricate not against Allah a lie, lest he extirpate you with a torment, and surely He who fabricateth, loseth. 61 So they disputed with one another about their affair and kept the discourse secret. 62 They said, "Indeed, these are two magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your most exemplary way. 63 So resolve upon your plan and then come [forward] in line. And he has succeeded today who overcomes." 64 The magicians said: "Moses, will you throw down or shall we be the first to throw?" 65 Moses said, "You throw first." When they did, their ropes and staffs through their magic seemed to be moving. 66 And Moses conceived a fear in his mind. 67 But We said to him: 'Do not be afraid; you shall surely be the uppermost. 68 And cast thou down that which is in thy right hand: it shall swallow up that which they have wrought; They have wrought only a magician's stratagem; and the magician prospereth not wheresoever he cometh. 69 The magicians then prostrated themselves. They said, "We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." 70 'Have you believed him before I have given you permission' he (Pharaoh) said. 'Indeed, he (must be) your chief, the one who taught you sorcery. I will cut off on opposite sides a hand and a foot then crucify you on the trunks of palmtrees. Indeed, you shall know whose punishment is more stern, and more lasting' 71 The magicians answered: "By Him Who has created us, we shall never prefer you to the Truth after manifest Signs have come to us. So decree whatever you will. Your decree will pertain, at the most, to the present life of the world. 72 "Verily! We have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our faults, and the magic to which you did compel us. And Allah is better as regards reward in comparison to your [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh)] reward, and more lasting (as regards punishment in comparison to your punishment)." 73 Indeed the one who comes guilty to his Lord – so undoubtedly for him is hell; neither dying nor living in it. 74 And whoever comes to Him a believer (and) he has done good deeds indeed, these it is who shall have the high ranks, 75 Gardens of Eden, underneath which rivers flow, therein dwelling forever; that is the recompense of the self-purified. 76