After arrogantly rejecting the first two signs Allah gave through Moses, Pharaoh made a plan which he hoped to shame Moses, gathering all the best magicians of the whole of the Egyptian kingdom which at the time was riddled with magic practices. They were called by Pharaoh, and so came in their masses, to support their ruler as they have been doing through illusions to subdue the public..

Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, “He is indeed a skilled magician,26:34

who seeks to drive you from your land by his magic. So what do you propose?”26:35

They replied, “Let him and his brother wait and dispatch mobilizers to all cities26:36

to bring you every skilled magician.”26:37

So the magicians were assembled at the set time on the appointed day.26:38

And the people were asked, “Will you join the gathering,26:39

so that we may follow the magicians if they prevail?”26:40

When the magicians came, they asked Pharaoh, “Shall we have a ˹suitable˺ reward if we prevail?”26:41

He replied, “Yes, and you will then certainly be among those closest to me.”26:42

He said, “Have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic, O  Moses?20:57

We can surely meet you with similar magic. So set for us an appointment that neither of us will fail to keep, in a central place.”20:58

Moses said, “Your appointment is on the Day of the Festival, and let the people be gathered mid-morning.”20:59

Pharaoh then withdrew, orchestrated his scheme, then returned.20:60

Before the magic was to happen, Moses went to the magicians with warning. However, they came together saying Moses and his brother were only magicians and excited the crowds boasting that they should do whatever they can, but the best will win.

Moses warned the magicians, “Woe to you! Do not fabricate a lie against Allah, or He will wipe you out with a torment. Whoever fabricates ˹lies˺ is bound to fail.”20:61

So the magicians disputed the matter among themselves, conversing privately.20:62

They concluded, “These two are only magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic, and do away with your most cherished traditions.20:63

So orchestrate your plan, then come forward in ˹perfect˺ ranks. And whoever prevails today will certainly be successful.”20:64

They said, “O Moses! Either you cast, or let us be the first to cast.”20:65

Moses responded, “No, you go first.” And suddenly their ropes and staffs appeared to him—by their magic—to be slithering.20:66

The magicians came in their masses and Moses and Aaron stood in front of them. The magicians asked if Moses wanted to go first, and he said they could. They all threw their ropes, sticks and staffs down and cast their spells calling on the 'might' of Pharaoh. Then, from the eyes of Moses and other spectators, it appeared the objects were moving around like a snake.

So they cast down their ropes and staffs, saying, “By Pharaoh’s might, it is we who will surely prevail.”26:44

to bring you every clever magician.”7:112

It was then Moses' turn. He threw down his staff saying:

When they did, Moses said, “What you have produced is mere magic, Allah will surely make it useless, for Allah certainly does not set right the work of the corruptors.10:81

And Allah establishes the truth by His Words—even to the dismay of the wicked.”10:82

So Moses concealed fear within himself.20:67

We reassured ˹him˺, “Do not fear! It is certainly you who will prevail.20:68

Cast what is in your right hand, and it will swallow up what they have made, for what they have made is no more than a magic trick. And magicians can never succeed wherever they go.”20:69

Then Moses threw down his staff, and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion!26:45

Moses' staff turned into a big, scary python . People began to run away as the snake one by one devoured the ropes and sticks of the magicians. They were mesmerised, in particular, the magicians. They knew that their tricks were only illusions and knew that what Moses had done was not possible for a human to do. It must have been from God. So, they all fell into prostration, and announced their belief in the message of Moses, knowing full-well that Pharaoh would severely punish them. Sa'id bin Jubair and others say that when they prostrated they saw their palaces in heaven being prepared for them and hence were not scared of Pharaoh's threat. They had tasted the sweetness of the remembrance of Allah and were not going to abandon it for anyone.

So the magicians fell down in prostration, declaring, “We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.”20:70

Pharaoh threatened, “How dare you believe in him before I give you permission? He must be your master who taught you magic. I will certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and crucify you on the trunks of palm trees. You will really see whose punishment is more severe and more lasting.”20:71

Pharaoh threatened, “How dare you believe in him before I give you permission? This must be a conspiracy you devised in the city to drive out its people, but soon you will see.7:123

I will certainly cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, then crucify you all.”7:124

They responded, “Surely to our Lord we will ˹all˺ return.7:125

Your rage towards us is only because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord! Shower us with perseverance, and let us die while submitting ˹to You˺.” 7:126

Pharaoh, after realising that his people might also believe in Moses' message, began to create lies about them and devise a plan of their punishment.

The chiefs of Pharaoh’s people protested, “Are you going to leave Moses and his people free to spread corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?” He responded, “We will kill their sons and keep their women. We will completely dominate them.”7:127

Moses reassured his people, “Seek Allah’s help and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah ˹alone˺. He grants it to whoever He chooses of His servants. The ultimate outcome belongs ˹only˺ to the righteous.”7:128

The magicians showed their faith by exclaiming that Allah alone has power over their lives, and His reward is far greater and they sought Allah's forgiveness.

They responded, “˹That would be˺ no harm! Surely to our Lord we will ˹all˺ return.26:50

We really hope that our Lord will forgive our sins, as we are the first to believe.”26:51

They responded, “By the One Who created us! We will never prefer you over the clear proofs that have come to us. So do whatever you want! Your authority only covers the ˹fleeting˺ life of this world.20:72

Indeed, we have believed in our Lord so He may forgive our sins and that magic you have forced us to practice. And Allah is far superior ˹in reward˺ and more lasting ˹in punishment˺.”20:73

Whoever comes to their Lord as an evildoer will certainly have Hell, where they can neither live nor die.20:74

But whoever comes to Him as a believer, having done good, they will have the highest ranks:20:75

the Gardens of Eternity, under which rivers flow, where they will stay forever. That is the reward of those who purify themselves.20:76

The magicians warned Pharaoh but his pride made him dismiss it. It is said that they were then martyred (as inferred from verse 7:126).