۞ From the earth We have created you, and to it We shall return you, and from it We shall raise you again. 55 And truly We showed him Our signs, all of them, but he rejected and refused. 56 He said, "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land with your magic, O Moses? 57 "Then verily, we can produce magic the like thereof; so appoint a meeting between us and you, which neither we, nor you shall fail to keep, in an open wide place where both shall have a just and equal chance (and beholders could witness the competition)." 58 Said (Moses): "Let your meeting be on the day of the Feast, and let people assemble in broad daylight." 59 So Pharaoh withdrew and gathered his guile, then returned, 60 Moses said to them, "Woe to you! Do not invent lies against God, lest He destroy you by some calamity: whoever invents lies is bound to fail." 61 Then they debated with one another what they must do, and they kept their talk 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 Hence, [O sorcerers of Egypt,] decide upon the scheme which you will pursue, and then come forward in one single body: for, indeed, he who prevails today shall prosper indeed!" 64 They said, “O Moosa, either you throw first – or shall we throw first?” 65 He said, "Rather, you throw." And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes]. 66 So Moses' heart was filled with fear. 67 We said to him: "Fear not. You will certainly be victorious. 68 Cast down what is in thy right hand, and it shall swallow what they have fashioned; for they have fashioned only the guile of a sorcerer, and the sorcerer prospers not; wherever he goes.' 69 The magicians bowed down in prostration saying, "We believe in the Lord of Moses and Aaron". 70 The Pharaoh said, "Since you believed in him without my permission, then Moses certainly must be your chief who has taught you magic. I shall cut your hands and feet on alternate sides and crucify you on the trunk of the palm-tree. You shall certainly find which among us can afflict a more severe and lasting punishment". 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 Lo! whoso cometh guilty unto his Lord, verily for him is hell. There 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 'Adn (Edn) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever: such is the reward of those who purify themselves [(by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds) which Allah has forbidden and by doing all that which Allah has ordained)]. 76