Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: "Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge 34 who seeks to expel you from your land by his sorcery. What is your counsel' 35 They said: "Detain him and his brother for a while and send forth heralds to the cities 36 to bring thee every cunning sorcerer. 37 So the magicians were gathered at a set time on a day appointed. 38 and the people were asked: Are you all present, 39 We may perhaps follow the religion of the magicians if they triumph." 40 Then, when the sorcerers came, they said to Pharaoh, 'Shall we indeed have a wage, if we should be the victors?' 41 He said: "Yes, and you shall then verily be of those brought near (to myself)." 42 Moses said to them: 'Cast down what you cast' 43 So they cast down their cords and their rods and said: By Firon's power, we shall most surely be victorious. 44 Then Moses threw his staff, and at once it devoured what they falsified. 45 Thereupon the magicians fell down in prostration, 46 They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Said (the Pharaoh): "You have come to believe in him before I gave you leave. He is surely your chief, who taught you magic. You will soon come to know: I will have your hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, and have every one of you crucified." 49 They said: "There will be no harm. We shall return to our Lord. 50 "Verily! We really hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, as we are the first of the believers [in Musa (Moses) and in the Monotheism which he has brought from Allah]." 51