Said [pharaoh] unto the great ones around him: "Verily, this is indeed a sorcerer of great knowledge 34 He wants to expel you from your land through his magic. What is your opinion?" 35 They replied: 'Put him and his brother off for a while, and send heralds to your cities 36 to mobilise all skilled magicians." 37 So the sorcerers were assembled at a fixed time on a day appointed. 38 And the people were told: "Are ye (now) assembled?- 39 "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?" 40 Then when the magicians came, they said unto Fir'awn: will there surely be a big hire for us if we are the winners? 41 He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will then be of those near [to me]." 42 Moses said to them, 'Cast you down what you will cast.' 43 So they cast their ropes and staffs, saying: 'By Pharaoh's might, 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 Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, 47 The Lord of Moses and Aaron. 48 Pharaoh said: "You accepted the word of Moses even before I granted you the leave to do so. Surely he is your chief who has taught you magic. Soon shall you come to know. I shall cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides and shall crucify all of you." 49 They said: "There will be no harm. We shall return to our Lord. 50 Surely we hope that our Lord will forgive us our wrongs because we are the first of the believers. 51