۞ From the earth We have created you, and to it We shall return you, and from it We shall raise you again. 55 We showed the Pharaoh all of Our miracles, but he called them lies and turned away from them. 56 He said: 'Moses, have you come to drive us from our land with your sorcery? 57 Then we will surely bring you magic like it, so make between us and you an appointment, which we will not fail to keep and neither will you, in a place assigned." 58 Moses said, "Let the contest take place on the Day of Feast so that all the people can come together during the brightness of the day." 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 discussed their strategy among themselves and conferred privately, 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 prepare your strategy and come forward. He alone shall win today who is superior." 64 They said, "Moses, will you throw down first, or shall we be the first to throw down?" 65 Moses replied: 'No, you throw first' And by their sorcery it seemed to him that their ropes and staffs were sliding. 66 And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses. 67 We said to him: "Fear not. You will certainly be victorious. 68 Throw down that [staff] which is in your right hand -- it shall swallow up what they have wrought, for what they have wrought is only a magician's trick. A magician shall never thrive, come whence he may. 69 So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." 70 Pharaoh said, 'Have you believed him before I gave you leave? Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you upon the trunks of palm-trees; you shall know of a certainty which of us is more terrible in chastisement, and more abiding.' 71 They replied: "We cannot choose you in the face of the clear testimony we have received, and over Him who created us. So do what you are determined to do. All that you would do will only be confined to our life on earth. 72 We have certainly come to believe in our Lord that He may forgive our trespasses and the magic you have forced us to perform, for God is nobler and abiding." 73 Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live. 74 whereas he who shall appear before Him as a believer who has done righteous deeds - it is such that shall have lofty stations [in the life to come]: 75 Gardens of Eden, underneath which rivers flow, therein dwelling forever; that is the recompense of the self-purified. 76