of Nokounam (May His Sanctity Be Preserved), Session 1502
The Holy Quran, as the Book of Guidance and Light, invites humankind through its illuminating verses to contemplate the grandeur of creation and the lofty station of humanity within the cosmic order. Among these, the verses addressing the confrontation between magic and miracle, human power and divine omnipotence, and human capabilities in relation to the will of God, open a gateway to a deeper understanding of the essence of existence and human faculties. This treatise, reflecting upon verse 79 of Surah Al-Imran and relevant verses in Surahs Taha and Al-Araf, examines the concept of magic and sorcery as specialised human disciplines, their distinction from divine miracles, and the magnificence of human creation in the light of Quranic wisdom and lived experience. Presented in a clear and dignified language, it strives to guide the reader towards the profundities of Quranic meanings by linking divine verses and mystical wisdom.
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ائْتُونِي بِكُلِّ سَاحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ
And Pharaoh said: Bring to me every learned sorcerer.
This verse, revealed in Surah Al-Imran (verse 79), refers to Pharaohs order to assemble skilled and knowledgeable magicians. Confronted with the divine miracle of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), Pharaoh sought sorcerers who, with their expertise and skill, might stand against the divine power. This verse marks the beginning of reflection on the distinction between magic and miracle and the human position in this confrontation.
Magic and sorcery, from the perspective of the Holy Quran, are recognised as human skills requiring practice, knowledge, and ability, akin to sports disciplines such as boxing or wrestling. These skills, although ineffective against divine miracles, occupy a particular place within human capabilities. Magic, associated with vigil and invocation, is intertwined with subtlety and finesse, whereas sorcery relies on the display of power and authority.
Key Point: Magic and sorcery, as specialised human disciplines, require knowledge and practice. Magic is linked with subtlety and vigil, whereas sorcery manifests power and capability. These skills fail in the presence of divine miracles, which stem from transcendent truth.
The Holy Quran expresses this reality in Surah Taha, verse 69:
وَأَلْقِ مَا فِي يَمِينِكَ تَلْقَفْ مَا صَنَعُوا ۖ إِنَّمَا صَنَعُوا كَيْدُ سَاحِرٍ ۖ وَلَا يُفْلِحُ السَّاحِرُ حَيْثُ أَتَىٰ
And cast what is in your right hand; it will devour what they have made. Indeed, that which they have made is the trick of a sorcerer, and the sorcerer will not succeed wherever he is.
This verse diminishes magic to an apparent trick that is powerless before divine authority. Though a sorcerer may influence others with skill, he is helpless in the face of a miracle rooted in transcendent reality.
Pharaohs command in verse 79 of Surah Al-Imran sought knowledgeable and aware sorcerers, not swindlers who exploit peoples ignorance with deceit. This distinction remains apparent in contemporary Islamic societies. In some regions, individuals claim magical abilities fraudulently for exploitation, whereas a knowledgeable sorcerer is characterised by genuine expertise and mastery in their domain.
Key Point: A knowledgeable sorcerer, endowed with true knowledge and skill, is distinguished from fraudsters who deceive people with false claims. The Holy Quran, by emphasising the failure of sorcerers before divine truth, underscores the importance of knowledge and awareness in all human disciplines.
This distinction is also reflected in Surah Al-Araf, verse 116:
فَلَمَّا أَلْقَوْا قَالَ مُوسَىٰ مَا جِئْتُمْ بِهِ السِّحْرُ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
So when they cast, Moses said: What you have brought is magic. Indeed, Allah will annul it. Indeed, Allah does not amend the deeds of corrupters.
This verse portrays magic as a deception that is invalidated by divine truth. Fraudsters, lacking real knowledge, are regarded within this framework as corrupters whose actions bear no fruitful result.
Magic and sorcery, as human skills, are presented in the Holy Quran as real yet limited phenomena. Although requiring knowledge and practice, these abilities fail in the face of divine miracles, which derive from transcendent truth. The distinction between a knowledgeable sorcerer and fraudsters emphasises the significance of knowledge and awareness in every field. The verses of the Holy Quran, by highlighting the failure of magic against miracles, invite humanity to reflect on the limitations of human capability and the grandeur of divine power.
A miracle, as a divine sign, transcends natural laws and is sent for the guidance of humanity. The Holy Quran attributes miracles exclusively to prophets and under the will of God, while magic and sorcery, as human skills, are powerless against it. The staff of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), which swallowed up the sorcerers magic, exemplifies this superiority.
Key Point: A miracle is a divine sign that transcends natural laws and is exclusive to the prophets. Magic and sorcery, being human skills, fail before miracles as they do not originate from transcendent truth.
This reality is clearly expressed in Surah Taha, verse 69: and the sorcerer will not succeed wherever he is. The miracle, as a divine light, devours the darkness of magic and illuminates the path of guidance.
Magic and sorcery have been likened to sports such as boxing or wrestling in comparison to miracles. Just as an athlete attains skill through training, a sorcerer acquires abilities through knowledge and perseverance. However, in the face of a miracle, which springs from divine power, these skills are like a handful of dust before a divine storm.
This analogy beautifully illustrates that while magic holds value within the human realm, it is powerless before divine grandeur. As a hero on the battlefield succumbs to celestial power, so too does the sorcerer bow in submission before the divine miracle.
A miracle, as a divine sign, is distinct from magic and sorcery by virtue of originating from Gods will. This distinction is clearly reflected in the Quranic verses, especially the narrative of Prophet Moses and Pharaohs sorcerers. Magic, although a human skill, fails before the miracle, which manifests transcendent truth. This section invites reflection on the majesty of divine power and the limitations of human faculties.
The Holy Quran introduces humanity as the grand universe, a being endowed with astonishing abilities. These capabilities, ranging from magic and sorcery to prophetic miracles, reflect the magnificence of human creation. Even figures such as Pharaoh, despite their misguidance, possessed this grandeur, yet their failure lay in the misuse of their powers.
Key Point: Humanity, as the grand universe, possesses remarkable faculties. When these faculties are directed towards goodness and divine guidance, they achieve perfection; however, misuse leads to misguidance and failure.
This reality is expressed in Surah At-Tin, verse 4:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
Indeed, We created man in the best of moulds.
This verse portrays the magnificence of human creation and invites contemplation on humanitys exalted position.
Lived experiences, often narrated as simple yet profound stories, teach wisdom. The tale of a fathers choice of elastic trousers, initially distressing for a child but later recognised as a symbol of wisdom and foresight, exemplifies these lessons. This experience demonstrates that even seemingly simple decisions may carry deep wisdom.
Stories such as walking on a tightrope or cycling upon a wire, which at first glance appear wondrous and impossible, represent extraordinary human capabilities. These abilities, when aligned with goodness and guidance, reflect the grandeur of creation, yet when misused, lead to misguidance.
Key Point: Lived experiences, even through simple narratives, embody profound wisdom. Such wisdom encourages reflection on the grandeur of creation and the importance of intention in actions.
Humanity faces a significant test in encounters with great powers, divine or earthly. Pharaoh, with all his grandeur and authority, failed before the divine miracle because he employed his capabilities towards misguidance. This lesson calls humanity to avoid arrogance and to heed divine guidance.
Narratives of encounters with great figures, sometimes leading to deep conflicts, highlight the majesty of human creation and simultaneously human vulnerability to the temptations of power. These accounts teach the use of ones capabilities on the path of goodness and justice.
The majesty of human creation, introduced as the grand universe in the Holy Quran, manifests in remarkable abilities ranging from magic and sorcery to prophetic miracles. The wisdom of life, derived from lived experiences, invites reflection on ones elevated station and the significance of intention in deeds. The confrontation with power, whether divine or earthly, is a test guiding humans toward guidance or misguidance.
Gold, as a noble and authentic wealth, holds inherent and enduring value compared to gemstones such as agate and turquoise. This wealth, which requires neither toil nor complex management, symbolises truth and authenticity in opposition to deception and superficiality.
Key Point: Gold, as noble wealth, symbolises truth and authenticity. Compared to gemstones, sometimes associated with deception and superficiality, gold holds inherent and lasting value.
This perspective aligns with Quranic verses emphasising honesty and simplicity in transactions. Surah An-Nisa, verse 29, states:
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