The Companions of the Ditch ... Lessons and Reflections [2]

  King and a Magician Confronting the Call

By Tareq Mustafa Hamida

 

“There was a king among those who were before you” ... The curtain rises, presenting the reader or listener with a king. Those who opposed the prophets and advocates of monotheism were the leaders and chieftains because they enslaved, oppressed, and exploited people, consuming their rights. It was only natural that these individuals would be the first to carry, and indeed lead, the banner of war against religion.

In the Qur’an, almost every story of a prophet involves the faithful confronting the elites—the leaders who are highly regarded by the people due to their status and wealth. This is evident in the stories of Noah, Hud, Salih, and Shuayb, peace be upon them. In the story of Moses, peace be upon him, Pharaoh and his elites lead the opposition against the call to monotheism.

When we consider the phrase “among those who were before you,” it becomes clear that what the Prophet, peace be upon him, is narrating is just a representative sample from among tens, perhaps hundreds, or even thousands of similar instances. This implies that the trials and afflictions you face from the leaders of Quraysh are neither new nor unique to you. It is a divine tradition that has been experienced by all believers before you, and now it is your turn. Those who were before you faced similar challenges, or rather, you are facing what they faced. In fact, what you face is insignificant compared to what they endured.

“The revelation is filled with historical narratives, so that each story serves as a bridge for them through time, bringing them comforting reassurance for their hearts, practical wisdom to guide their actions, truth that refutes the distortions of their enemies, reminders that strengthen them, and admonitions that encourage them. Even the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, himself needed this reinforcement,

﴿وَكُلّٗا نَّقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَۚ وَجَآءَكَ فِي هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَمَوۡعِظَةٞ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ١٢٠﴾

(And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers.) [Hud:120]

“And He Had a Magician”

  The magician belonged to the king, working for him and serving the interests of the monarchy to reinforce its rule. Magic wasn’t just a societal phenomenon; it governed society itself. When magic rules, it indicates a corrupt, unjust reality dominated by desires. The magician’s task, as Sheikh Rifā͑ī Surūr notes, is to ensure there is no rational force or strong intellect in society.

As Dr. Omar al-Ashqar explains, “Magic is a strange world where truth mingles with superstition, science with witchcraft, and motives and goals intertwine. It appears beautiful and enchanting on the surface, captivating the hearts of the simple-minded and deceiving the gullible. But beneath this surface, it is filthy and repugnant, shunned by the wise and avoided by those with sound instincts and enlightened hearts.”[1]

One of the first things a reader of the Quran notices is the close association between magic and Pharaoh, as both united in their fight against religion. The magicians themselves confessed that Pharaoh had forced them into practicing magic long before their confrontation with Moses. They expressed this by saying,

﴿إِنَّآ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِيَغۡفِرَ لَنَا خَطَٰيَٰنَا وَمَآ أَكۡرَهۡتَنَا عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلسِّحۡرِۗ وَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرٞ وَأَبۡقَىٰٓ٧٣﴾

(Indeed, we have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and what you compelled us [to do] of magic. And Allah is better and more enduring.) [20:73]

Pharaoh seemed to select intelligent youths, take them from their families, and have them trained in magic, dispersing them throughout the cities to maintain his rule. This is evidenced by the suggestion of the elites to Pharaoh to send gatherers to bring all skilled magicians to him, emphasizing the deep connection between magic and the monarchy.

Additionally, it is noted that devils are the ones who teach people magic,

﴿ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ ٱلسِّحۡرَ ﴾

(But the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic) [2:102] Thus, magic is a diabolical whispering, an evil plot aimed primarily at diverting people from the right path and supporting Pharaoh’s rule in combating monotheism. The devil whispers, and Pharaoh enforces disbelief.

When we examine the activities and actions of the magicians in reinforcing Pharaoh's rule and waging war against religion, we observe the following:

1. Distraction and Numbing

Pharaoh’s rule causes oppression, violation of rights, and degradation of people’s dignity. The magicians perform their strange and astonishing acts, relying on sleight of hand and optical illusions, distracting people from contemplating their painful reality. This makes them live in a stupor, forgetting their sufferings and refraining from working towards change.

2. Deception and Distortion of Truth

Magicians do not actually change the essence of things; they only create the illusion of change. The Quran describes this in several places, such as,

﴿قَالَ بَلۡ أَلۡقُواْۖ فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمۡ وَعِصِيُّهُمۡ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيۡهِ مِن سِحۡرِهِمۡ أَنَّهَا تَسۡعَىٰ٦٦﴾

(And suddenly their ropes and staffs seemed to him from their magic that they were moving [like snakes].) [20:66] and,

﴿قَالَ أَلۡقُواْۖ فَلَمَّآ أَلۡقَوۡاْ سَحَرُوٓاْ أَعۡيُنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱسۡتَرۡهَبُوهُمۡ وَجَآءُو بِسِحۡرٍ عَظِيمٖ١١٦﴾

(He said, “Throw,” and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.) [7:116] A contemporary equivalent to the role of magicians can be seen in many modern media outlets, which distort and fabricate truths, presenting falsehood as truth and vice versa. They portray defeats as victories, jihad as terrorism, surrender and negligence as peace, oppression as justice, colonization as enlightenment, religion as extremism, debauchery as art, and atheism as thought.

Lies have no legs, and no matter how vigorously the ancient or modern magicians work to distort the truth, reality remains a stronger and clearer argument than the enchantment of words. The depth of physical, psychological, economic, and political wounds is more powerful than all methods of distraction and numbing. Therefore, those who are not convinced by falsehood and are not silenced by doses of morphine need to be terrorized and frightened to prevent them from attempting any action against the pharaohs. We have noticed that the work of the magicians involved “terrorizing and intimidating the spectators.” Allah says,

﴿قَالَ أَلۡقُواْۖ فَلَمَّآ أَلۡقَوۡاْ سَحَرُوٓاْ أَعۡيُنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱسۡتَرۡهَبُوهُمۡ وَجَآءُو بِسِحۡرٍ عَظِيمٖ١١٦﴾

(He said, “Throw,” and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.) [7:116] Even Moses, peace be upon him, was affected by this scene,

﴿فَأَوۡجَسَ فِي نَفۡسِهِۦ خِيفَةٗ مُّوسَىٰ٦٧﴾

(And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses.) [20:67]

4. Fragmentation of Families

In Sūrat al-Baqarah, it is mentioned that magicians learn (that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife.) [2:102]. This specific mention highlights its extreme danger, almost suggesting that compared to causing discord between spouses, nothing else the magicians learn is as significant. In a Hadith, it’s narrated that Satan dispatches his troops of demons to mislead people, and upon their return, they boast of their deeds. However, none of them receives recognition despite their extensive corruption and crimes. Then comes one who claims to have caused separation between spouses, and Satan praises him and brings him close.[2]

Once division occurs between spouses, the family disintegrates. As the family serves as the cornerstone of society, its breakdown inevitably leads to the collapse of society itself. Pharaoh sought this fragmentation, desiring a fractured society to ease his rule. The Pharaohs’[3] motto, whether native or foreign, is “divide and conquer.” The Quran describes Pharaoh as,

﴿إِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ عَلَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهۡلَهَا شِيَعٗا ﴾

«Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions.) [28:4] The efforts of various institutions, departments, organizations, and conferences today to disintegrate families, dismantle their structure, and weaken their foundations are apparent to observant individuals.

5. Forced Exodus

Magicians and Pharaoh’s kin repeatedly accused Moses and his brother, peace be upon them, of attempting to drive them out of their land by their magic, to an astonishing degree,

﴿قَالُوٓاْ إِنۡ هَٰذَٰنِ لَسَٰحِرَٰنِ يُرِيدَانِ أَن يُخۡرِجَاكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِكُم بِسِحۡرِهِمَا وَيَذۡهَبَا بِطَرِيقَتِكُمُ ٱلۡمُثۡلَىٰ٦٣﴾

(They said, "Indeed, these are two magicians who want to drive you out of your land with their magic and do away with your most exemplary way.) [20:63], and,

﴿يُرِيدُ أَن يُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنۡ أَرۡضِكُم بِسِحۡرِهِۦ فَمَاذَا تَأۡمُرُونَ٣٥﴾

(He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic, so what do you advise?) [26:35] This accusation reflects the Pharaohs’ deep concern that the call has come to shake their foundations, overturn their authority, and shake the ground beneath them. It also reveals the actions and schemes of the Pharaohs and magicians, who accuse Moses and Aaron of a crime they themselves—Pharaohs and magicians—are guilty of.

Whether domestic or foreign, the Pharaohs pursue policies aimed at either emptying the land of its inhabitants or expelling those with intellect and knowledge, in what’s known as the displacement of minds. This ensures that no minds remain in the country to contemplate changing the dismal reality, and no youth possess the ambition and determination to act against it.

6. The Fortune-Teller as Counselor

In a narration by at-Tirmidhī and Ahmad ibn Hanbal of story of the Companions of the Ditch,[4] it’s mentioned, “a soothsayer who predicts for him” instead of a magician. While authentic narration holds precedence, it doesn’t negate the possibility of a magician also functioning as a soothsayer. In our time, many leaders consult fortune-tellers or psychic advisors. Some, lacking faith in God’s true guidance, find themselves in dire need of such advisors for personal or public matters. Additionally, they may steer the public or certain individuals towards positions, policies, and behaviors beneficial to the regime. Research centers or specialized consultants facilitate this manipulation to sway public opinion.

To be continued...

---

[1] See The World of Magic and Witchcraft, 1989.

[2] See Sahīh Muslim, 2813.

[3] Pharaoh of Egypt during the time of Moses has become a symbol of tyranny, so every tyrant is Pharaoh is that sense.

[4] See Tirmidhī, 3340.