۞ From the earth We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time. 55 And We certainly showed Pharaoh Our signs - all of them - but he denied and refused. 56 He said to Moses, "Have you come to expel us from our land through your magic? 57 So we too will produce before you magic like it, therefore make between us and you an appointment, which we should not break, (neither) we nor you, (in) a central place. 58 Musa said: your appointment is the gala day, and that the people be gathered in the forenoon. 59 So Firaun went away and gathered his schemes,* then came. (* 72000 magicians and their materials.) 60 Moosa said to them, “Ruin is to you – do not fabricate a lie against Allah, that He may destroy you by a punishment; and indeed one who fabricates lies has failed.” 61 So they discussed their strategy among themselves and conferred privately, 62 Some of them said: "These two are magicians, who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and to destroy your excellent way of life. 63 “Therefore strengthen your scheme, and come forth in rows; indeed whoever dominates this day has succeeded.” 64 The magicians said: "Moses, will you throw down or shall we be the first to throw?" 65 He said: Nay, do ye throw! Then lo! their cords and their staves, by their magic, appeared to him as though they ran. 66 Moses felt afraid within himself. 67 We said: Fear not, surely you shall be the uppermost, 68 Throw that which is in your right hand. It will swallow up that which they have made, for that which they made is but the guile of a sorcerer. Wherever he goes the sorcerer does not prosper' 69 Thereafter the sorcerers threw themselves down, prostrating, saying: 'We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses' 70 (Pharaoh) said: Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he is your chief who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment. 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 Lo! we believe in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins and the magic unto which thou didst force us. Allah is better and more lasting. 73 Surely for him who comes before his Lord a sinner shall be Hell, where he will neither die nor live. 74 But whoso cometh unto Him a believer, having done good works, for such are the high stations; 75 and shall live for ever in everlasting Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Such will be the reward of those who purify themselves. 76