Pharaoh said to the nobles around him: "Surely this man is a skilled magician 34 “He wishes to expel you out of your land by his magic; so what is your advice?” 35 They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers 36 and summon every skillful magician from all the cities." 37 So the magicians were assembled for the appointment of a well-known day. 38 and the people were told, "Will you also gather together, 39 so that we may follow the magicians if they become victorious? 40 Now when the sorcerers came, they said unto Pharaoh: "Verily, we ought to have a great reward if it is we who prevail. 41 He replied, "You will then be my closest associates". 42 Moses said to them, 'Cast you down what you will cast.' 43 So they threw their ropes and their sticks, and said: "By the might of Fir'aun (Pharaoh), it is we who will certainly win!" 44 Then Moses cast down his staff and suddenly it swallowed up what they had falsely invented. 45 And down fell the sorcerers, prostrating themselves in adoration, 46 saying: 'We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 47 the Lord of Moses and Aaron.' 48 Said Pharaoh, 'You have believed him before I gave you leave. Why, he is the chief of you, the same that taught you sorcery; now you shall know! I shall assuredly cut off alternately your hands and feet, then I shall crucify you all together.' 49 They said: "No harm! Surely, to our Lord (Allah) we are to return; 50 Behold, we [but] ardently desire that our Sustainer forgive us our faults in return for our having been foremost among the believers!" 51