فَأَجْمِعُوا كَيْدَكُمْ ثُمَّ ائْتُوا صَفّاً وَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْيَوْمَ مَنِ اسْتَعْلَى

64. "So gather your devices, and then come in ordered ranks (as an organized, unified force), for the one who gains the upper hand today has surely triumphed."¹¹

11. History is a telling of the recurring patterns and meanings in events at different times. The encounter told here is of the recurring battle between truth and falsehood, justice and tyranny. The Qur'an presents events in such a way that we not only follow clearly the line of events unfolding, but also understand the weight of meaning carried in them, their causes and outcomes, and the manners and motives of the people involved in them

Islam never aims to debase or destroy people; instead it comes to exalt them. For this reason, the Prophet Moses, upon him be peace, made an influential address to his opponents, warning them. Through the earlier efforts of the Prophet Joseph, upon him be peace, God's true Religion – Islam – had begun to prevail in Egypt. Therefore, at the time Moses, upon him be peace, began his mission, it could still be traced among the people there. As can be understood from the miracles granted to Moses, upon him be peace – for the miracles given to every Prophet were in relation to the branch of science or craft most developed at that time – chemistry and alchemy were of great import. Sorcerers were the leading scientists and intellectuals of the time. By addressing them (and other people) in verse 61) Moses, upon him be peace, who knew Egypt very well, did his principal task of conveying the Divine Message while also warning them against a possible calamity. His address had the expected influence on the sorcerers and caused a difference of opinion to arise among them. But, as always happens in history, the Pharaoh and his men intervened and attempted to eliminate this difference. They tried to encourage the sorcerers by saying that Moses and Aaron, upon them be peace, were sorcerers, like them, and alarmed and provoked them by saying that Moses, upon him be peace, intended to drive the people out of their own land and abolish their way of life then the Pharaoh went on to make alluring promises to them. We read this promise in 7: 113–114 and 26: 41–42: Pharaoh promised: "(If you are the winners), you will indeed be among those nearest (to my favor)."