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qāla ʾin kunta jiʾta bi-ʾāyatin fa-ʾti bihā ʾin kunta mina ṣ-ṣādiqīna
He said, ‘If you have brought a sign, produce it, should you be truthful.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
7Al-A'rāfالأعرافVerse 106 of 206
The Heights7. Al-A'rāfالأعراف
Al A‘rāf
The Heights
MeccanVerse 106 of 206
Surah al-‘Araf – Verses 106-107
106 . “He (Pharaoh) said: ‘If you have come with a Sign (a miracle), then bring it, if you are of the truthful ones’.”
107 . “So he threw his rod, then behold! it was a clear serpent.”
The Definition of a Miracle
The Arabic term /mu‘jizah/ is derived from the root /‘ajaza/ which means an action that those who have not the capacity and genius of prophethood or imamate are unable to do it, such as the act of Moses by his Rod, or the act of Jesus in raising men from the dead, and so on. The verse says:
In Surah Ash-Shu‘arā, No. 26, verse 45 we recite:
There were also some more miracles appeared from that Rod. It was struck the water of the sea when it dried up. Surah Ash-Shu‘arā, No. 26, verse 63 says:
Or, it was struck the rock and fountains of water gushed forth from it. Surah Al-Baqarah, No. 2, verse 60 says:
It should be explained that at the presence of Moses (as) the Rod changed to be a small snake, as Surah An-Naml, No. 27, verse 10 says:
At the presence of people it seemed an ordinary snake. Surah Tāhā, No. 20, verse 20 says:
But, at the presence of Pharaoh, it became a great clear snake, as the verse under discussion says:
However, a miracle should be clear for all, so that no doubt remains. The verse says: