'This', said he (Pharaoh) to his Council, 'is a cunning sorcerer 34 who desires to expel you from your land by his sorcery; what do you command?' 35 They replied: 'Put him and his brother off for a while, and send heralds to your cities 36 to bring thee every cunning sorcerer. 37 So the magicians were assembled at a stated time and place on an appointed day. 38 And it was said unto the people: Are ye (also) gathering? 39 Haply we may follow the magicians, if they are the vanquishers. 40 So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Fir'aun (Pharaoh): "Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners?" 41 He said: Yes, and surely you will then be of those who are made near. 42 Moses said to them: 'Cast down what you cast' 43 So they cast their ropes and their staffs, and said, 'By the might of Pharaoh we shall be the victors.' 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and it swallowed up their lying invention, 45 So the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allah]. 46 Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 47 and the Lord of Moses and Aaron." 48 Said he: You believe in him before I give you permission; most surely he is the chief of you who taught you the magic, so you shall know: certainly I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and certainly I will crucify you all. 49 'There is no harm' they replied, 'for surely to our Lord we are turning. 50 We are eager that Our Lord should forgive us our offenses, for we are the first of the believers' 51