۞ From the earth We have created you, and to it We shall return you, and from it We shall raise you again. 55 And We showed Pharaoh all Our Signs, but he did reject and refuse. 56 He said: art thou come unto us that thou mayest drive us out of our land by thy magic, O Musa! 57 We shall certainly meet you with like magic. So make an appointment when we and you could meet on common ground, which neither we nor you should fail to keep." 58 Moses said: "The appointment to meet you is on the Day of the Feast and let all people come together before noon." 59 So Pharaoh withdrew, devised his stratagem and returned. 60 Musa (Moses) said to them: "Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He should destroy you completely by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie (against Allah) will fail miserably." 61 Thereupon they wrangled among themselves about the matter and conferred in secret. 62 They said: verily these two are magicians, intending to drive you forth from your land by their magic and to do away with your superior way. 63 So muster all your stratagem and come forth in a row. Whoever prevails today shall triumph." 64 The magicians said: "Moses, will you throw down or shall we be the first to throw?" 65 'No,' said Moses. 'Do you cast!' And lo, it seemed to him, by their sorcery, their ropes and their staffs were sliding; 66 and in his heart Moses became apprehensive. 67 But We said to him: 'Do not be afraid; you shall surely be the uppermost. 68 Throw that which is in thy right hand! It will eat up that which they have made. Lo! that which they have made is but a wizard's artifice, and a wizard shall not be successful to whatever point (of skill) he may attain. 69 The magicians then prostrated themselves. They said, "We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." 70 Said [Pharaoh]: "Have you come to believe in him ere I have given you permission? Verily, he must be your master who has taught you magic! But I shall most certainly cut off your hands and feet in great numbers, because of [your] perverseness, and I shall most certainly crucify you in great numbers on trunks of palm-trees: and [I shall do this] so that you might come to know for certain as to which of us [two] can inflict a more severe chastisement, and [which] is the more abiding!" 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 We believe in our Lord, that He may pardon us our offences, and the sorcery thou hast constrained us to practise; God is better, and more abiding.' 73 The truth is that Hell awaits him who comes to his Lord laden with sin; he shall neither die in it nor live. 74 But such as come to Him as Believers who have worked righteous deeds,- for them are ranks exalted,- 75 will be rewarded by high status in the gardens of Eden wherein streams flow. Such will be the reward of those who purify themselves. 76