Pharaoh said, ‘What is the Lord of all the worlds?’ He said, ‘The Lord of the heavens and the Earth and everything between them if you knew for sure.’ He said to those around him, ‘Are you listening?’ He said, ‘Your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers, the previous peoples.’ He said, ‘This Messenger, who has been sent to you, is mad.’ He said, ‘The Lord of the East and the West and everything between them if you used your intellect.’ He said, ‘If you take any god other than me, I will certainly throw you into prison.’ He said, ‘Even if I were to bring you something undeniable?’ He said, ‘Produce it then if you are someone telling the truth.’ So He threw down his staff and there it was, unmistakably a snake. And he drew out his hand and there it was, pure white to those who looked. He said to the High Council round about him, ‘This certainly is a skilled magician who desires by his magic to expel you from your land, so what do you recommend?’ They said, ‘Detain him and his brother and send out marshals to the cities, to bring you all the skilled magicians.’ So the magicians were assembled for a meeting on a specified day. The people were asked, ‘Are you all assembled so we can follow the magicians if they are the winners?’ When the magicians came, they said to Pharaoh, ‘Will we be rewarded if we are the winners?’ He said, ‘Yes, and in that case you will be among those brought near.’ Musa said to them, ‘Throw whatever it is you are going to throw!’ They threw down their ropes and staffs and said, ‘By the might of Pharaoh we are the winners.’ But Musa threw down his staff and at once it swallowed up what they had fabricated. The magicians threw themselves down, prostrating. They said, ‘We believe in the Lord of all the worlds, the Lord of Musa and Harun.’ He said, ‘Have you believed in Him before I authorized you? He is your chief who taught you magic. But you will soon know! I will cut off your alternate hands and feet and I will crucify every one of you.’ They said, ‘We do not care! We are returning to our Lord. We remain hopeful that our Lord will forgive us our mistakes for being the first of the believers.’ (Surat ash-Shuara, 23-51)
We brought the tribe of Israel across the sea and Pharaoh and his troops pursued them out of tyranny and enmity. Then, when he was on the point of drowning, he said, ‘I believe that there is no god but Him in whom the tribe of Israel believe. I am one of the Muslims.’ ‘What, now! When previously you rebelled and were one of the corrupters? Today we will preserve your body so you can be a Sign for people who come after you. Surely many people are heedless of Our Signs.’ (Surah Yunus, 90-92)