Transliteration:( Wa qaaloo yaaa ayyuhas saahirud'u lanaa Rabbaka bimaa 'ahida 'indaka innanaa lamuhtadoon )
"But they said: 'O magician [87], pray to your Lord for us, because of His promise made with [88] you. Surely, we shall then accept guidance'."
In that era, the word “magician” was used with a degree of respect and admiration, as magic was considered a powerful and wondrous art. Although the people called Musa (peace be upon him) a magician, this was not necessarily meant as an insult but reflected their fascination and the high regard they had for magic. This shows the complex attitudes of the Pharaoh’s people—they feared and respected Musa’s power, even as they doubted his divine mission.
The term “covenant” here may refer to either the accepted prayers of Musa (peace be upon him) or to his prophethood itself. From this, several lessons arise:
Seeking intercession through a pious person’s prayer has ancient roots—people have long believed in the power of a righteous one’s supplication for relief and guidance.
Even the disbelievers and Pharaoh’s people recognized the prophet as one who could intercede with Allah and remove difficulties, showing they acknowledged his spiritual power, especially in times of hardship. This recognition does not amount to disbelief or shirk.
The infidels’ severe troubles were alleviated when they turned to the prophets for help; for believers, the mercy and care received from the prophet’s intercession is even greater.
However, professing faith in Allah and His Messenger only out of compulsion or fear, without sincere belief, is unacceptable. True faith must be heartfelt, not forced by circumstances.
The tafsir of Surah Zukhruf verse 49 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Zukhruf ayat 46 which provides the complete commentary from verse 46 through 50.
(43:49) (Whenever they faced an affliction) they would say: “O magician, pray for us to your Lord according to your station with Him. We shall certainly be guided to the Right Way.”
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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