Surah Al-Qasas, Ayah 36
Quran 28:36 · The Stories · Makki · Para 20 · Page 390
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ مُّوْسٰی بِاٰیٰتِنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ قَالُوْا مَا هٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّفْتَرًی وَّمَا سَمِعْنَا بِهٰذَا فِیْۤ اٰبَآىِٕنَا الْاَوَّلِیْنَ ۟
Transliteration
Falamma jaahum moosabi-ayatina bayyinatin qaloo mahatha illa sihrun muftaran wamasamiAAna bihatha fee aba-inaal-awwaleen
Saheeh International
But when Moses came to them with Our signs as clear evidences, they said, "This is not except invented magic, and we have not heard of this [religion] among our forefathers."
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
When Moses (peace be upon him) brought My clear signs to them, they said, “This is nothing but a lie that Moses has fabricated; we have not heard anything like it from our forefathers. If it had been true, we would have heard something of the sort among the nations that have passed before us.”
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) on 28:36–28:37
Then when Musa came to them with Our Clear Ayat, they said: "This is nothing but invented magic. Never did we hear of this among our fathers of old. (36)Musa said: "My Lord knows best him who came with guidance from Him, and whose will be the happy end in the Hereafter. Verily, the wrongdoers will not be successful. (37)
Musa before Fir'awn and His People
Allah tells us how Musa and his brother Harun came before Fir'awn and his chiefs, and showed them the clear miracles and overwhelming proof that Allah had given them to confirm the truth of what they were saying about Allah being One and that His commandments were to be followed. Fir'awn and his chiefs saw that with their own eyes and realized that it was certainly from Allah, but because of their disbelief and sin they resorted to stubbornness and false arguments. This was because they were too evil and arrogant to follow the truth. They said:
مَا هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُفْتَرًى
(This is nothing but invented magic.) meaning, fabricated and made up. They wanted to oppose him by means of their own tricks and their position and power, but this did not work.
وَمَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَٰذَا فِي آبَائِنَا الْأَوَّلِينَ
(Never did we hear of this among our fathers of old.) They were referring worshipping Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. They said: "We have never seen anyone among our forefathers following this religion; we have only ever seen people associating other gods in worship with Allah. Musa said in response to them:
رَبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ جَاءَ بِالْهُدَىٰ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ
(My Lord knows best him who came with guidance from Him,) meaning, 'of me and you, and He will decide between me and you.' So he said:
وَمَنْ تَكُونُ لَهُ عَاقِبَةُ الدَّارِ
(and whose will be the happy end in the Hereafter.) meaning, who will be supported and will prevail.
إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ
(Verily, the wrongdoers will not be successful.) refers to the idolators who associate others in worship with Allah.