The discourse on truth and deception, the confrontation between divine light and human darkness, has always been central to the attention of divine religions and, in particular, the Holy Qur'an. Verses 76 and 77 of Surah Al-Imran, by narrating the encounter of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Aaron (peace be upon him) with Pharaoh and his people, open a window towards understanding this confrontation and allude to the influences of the educational environment, magic, and moral deviations within human societies. This writing, by reflecting on these verses and exploring the lectures of religious scholars, examines various dimensions of this subject. Its purpose is to elucidate, with profound insight and a coherent structure, the divine and human concepts of these verses within the context of the contemporary world, enabling the reader to view truth and deception in modern life from a renewed perspective.
فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ عِنْدِنَا قَالُوا إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ
Then, when the truth came to them from Us, they said: "Indeed, this is clear magic."
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ بِآيَاتِنَا فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ
Then We sent, after them, Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our signs; but they were arrogant, and they were a criminal people.
These verses, by referring to the reaction of Pharaohs people towards divine miracles, address the confrontation between truth and deception, faith and arrogance, guidance and misguidance. Pharaoh and his chiefs, confronted with divine signs, regarded miracles as magic and arrogantly closed the path to truth for themselves. This encounter provides a basis for reflecting upon the environmental and social influences on human behaviour.
The story of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh is among the most pivotal narratives in the Holy Qur'an, extensively mentioned in Surahs such as Al-A'raf, Taha, and Qasas. In verse 116 of Surah Al-A'raf it is stated: "So when they threw down, Moses said, 'What you have brought is magic; indeed, Allah will expose its falsehood.'" This verse demonstrates that although magic appeared deceptive superficially, it ultimately failed before divine miracles. This confrontation is reflected not only in the time of Moses (peace be upon him) but also in the contemporary world, where apparent deceptions continue to be challenged by divine truth.
The contemporary world, in a manner of speaking, remains under the shadow of the influence of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), not because he promoted magic, but due to the social and cultural reactions that emerged in response to his miracles. Magic, as a deception used in the time of Pharaoh to counter divine truth, has manifested in various forms in modern societies. In Western countriesfrom the United States to the United Kingdom and Francemagic appears as advanced psychological, media, and technological tools that influence public perception. These tools, which sometimes operate with astonishing power and precision, resemble Pharaohs magicians' staffs: deceptive but devoid of divine truth.
Conversely, in some Islamic societies such as Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, claims associated with magic are often limited to deception and fraud. These claims, lacking genuine tools and deep knowledge, exploit peoples beliefs and distance them from divine truth. The Holy Qur'an states in verse 81 of Surah Taha: "Indeed, Allah will abolish it. Indeed, Allah does not amend the work of corrupters." This verse reminds us of the ultimate failure of magic in the face of truth.
Magic is divided into two types: genuine and false. In Western countries, what is called genuine magic refers to advanced tools that, by influencing the mind and perception, masterfully display deception. These tools, such as modern media and psychological techniques, derive their power from scientific and technological advancements. Conversely, in Islamic societies, false magic is limited to baseless claims and exploitation of people's ignorance. This difference stems from the level of religious and media literacy in these communities. The Holy Qur'an states in verse 102 of Surah Al-Baqarah: "And they followed what the devils used to recite during the reign of Solomon." This verse introduces magic as a real phenomenon but devoid of divine truth.
The upbringing of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) in Pharaohs court, which was replete with magic, arrogance, and moral deviations, constituted a significant challenge on his prophetic mission. The Holy Qur'an states in verse 7 of Surah Qasas: "And We inspired the mother of Moses, 'Suckle him...'" This corrupt environment, symbolising power and misguidance, could have influenced Moses (peace be upon him) behaviour and values. However, divine guidance protected him from deviation, as mentioned in verse 68 of Surah Qasas: "And We chose him by Our knowledge." The emotional relationship between Moses (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh, described as a father-son bond, was an emotional challenge that Moses overcame by relying on his faith.
The concept of forbidden sustenance, recognised in religious texts as a factor in moral corruption, holds a special place in this discussion. The Prophets tradition states: "Whoever consumes forbidden sustenance, his deeds will not be accepted." Pharaohs court, with its moral deviations and proliferation of wine and magic, symbolised this forbidden sustenance. This environment facilitated the spread of magic and wine globally; however, Moses (peace be upon him), by divine guidance, remained immune to these influences.
Although magic and miracles may appear similar superficially, they differ in nature and purpose. Pharaohs magicians used tools such as ropes and staffs to deceive, as stated in verse 116 of Surah Al-A'raf: "Then their ropes and staffs appeared to him by their magic to be moving." In the contemporary world, magical tools have evolved into advanced technologies employed in the West to influence public perception. Conversely, in Islamic societies, the absence of genuine tools has resulted in false claims.
In personal experiences, tools such as the "Pallon" (an instrument half the size of a bread platter) and the "Crystal Ark" have been mentioned as devices created for mystical purposes. These tools, reportedly designed for the future according to the narrator, reflect humanitys endeavour to create means of influencing perception. Nonetheless, these tools fail before divine miracles, which emanate from the power of God.
In certain Islamic societies, such as the cities of Qom and Qazvin, claims related to magic have led to fraud and exploitation of peoples beliefs. These claims, often lacking real foundation, are made for material gain. The Holy Qur'an states in verse 112 of Surah Ash-Shu'ara: "So they came with a great magic," but emphasises that such deception fails before divine truth. These examples highlight the necessity for awareness and critical thinking in confronting superficial deceptions.
In cities like Qom and Qazvin, reports of fraud under the guise of magic have been recorded. In one instance, an individual on Chahar Mardan Street in Qom collected money from people through false claims. In another, religious scholars spoke of the exploitation of peoples ignorance by certain individuals. Such behaviours, leading to deception and fraud, demonstrate the need to enhance religious awareness and media literacy.
Wine, as one of the ethical and spiritual obstacles, is condemned in the Holy Qur'an. Verse 90 of Surah Al-Ma'idah states: "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan." Pharaohs court, as a corrupt environment, facilitated the spread of wine and moral deviations. These deviations, like magic, stem from environmental influences and lead to human misguidance.
A historical example involves purchasing wine to expose fraudsters. In this case, by buying wine and not paying for it, the fraudsters were punished. This action serves as a mirror exposing deceit and underscores the importance of awareness against moral deviations.
The Holy Qur'an emphasises the significance of knowledge and awareness. Verse 11 of Surah Al-Mujadila states: "Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees." Mystical experiences, such as testing wine without consuming it, signify the endeavour to comprehend truth and distinguish between appearance and essence. This approach aligns with the Quranic emphasis on reflection and contemplation.
Experiences like the wine test and the construction of mystical tools aim to achieve deeper understanding of truth. These efforts, like a lamp in the darkness of ignorance, illuminate the path toward truth. The mystic, relying on intuition and inner awareness, transcends superficial deceptions and approaches divine truth.
Verses 76 and 77 of Surah Al-Imran, by narrating the confrontation between truth and deception, offer profound lessons regarding divine mission and human deviations. These verses demonstrate the impotence of magic against divine miracles, the detrimental influence of a corrupt environment, and the importance of awareness against deception. The distinction between genuine and false magic, the effects of wine, and the emotional relationship between Moses (peace be upon him) and Pharaoh emphasise the complexities of human and divine interactions. This writing, by exploring these concepts, paves the way for deeper understanding of truth and resistance to contemporary deceptions.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
