What Drove the Most Evil Individuals of their Time to Submit Willingly to Allāh?

I guess no one can compete in wickedness with sorcerers; those who practice black magic and magic in general. They are the dearest beings to the Satan.

Allāh, the Exalted, mentioned the story of Moses PBUH with the Pharaoh and his enticing promise to the sorcerers if they defeat Moses with their magic. But surprisingly, when Moses PBUH casted his cane, turned into a snake and swallowed all of their casted canes and ropes, which seemed to the viewers as snakes, they immediately fell down in prostration to Allāh declaring:

"We believe in the Rabb (Lord) of Aaron and Moses PBUT"!

Despite the Pharaoh's brutal threat to amputate their limbs and crucify them on trees they couldn't retreat or renounce the enormous impact of the great sign they have witnessed before their eyes.

The level of certainty and contentment they've reached, made them even disregard the Pharaoh's threat. They courageously made an immediate audible comparison between the punishment of the Pharaoh and the torment of Allāh if they disbelieved in Him; declared without hesitance before the Pharaoh that they are willing to bear whatever torture he is willing to exercise against them; and came to a certainty that Allāh's promise is ever lasting and limitless while the Pharaoh's enticing worldly promise is transient and limited.

Alhamdulilaah, we have witnessed enough signs to make us come to certainty that Allāh is True. And thanks to Allāh, we didn't have to go through the same trial as the Pharaoh's sorcerers did.

Here are some lessons to draw from this amazing story, which is an embodiment for courageousness, patience and sacrifice:

1. Allāh SWT had displayed to mankind enough signs to proof His existence. Hence, there is no excuse for anyone to deny God existence.

2. If the worst disbelieving human came to conclusion that believing in Allāh and submitting to Him is a necessity, haven't we observed enough signs to make us submit to Allāh?

3. The sorcerers were willing to change their entire life style to conform to the new Islāmic compliant one. I believe our life style is less intricate and less evil than theirs; isn't this a motive for us to change our life style?

4. No matter how great or evil our sins are, remember the doors of repentance are wide open and Allāh SWT is the Oft-Forgiving.

5. There is no comparison between the worldly delusion of this life and the promising inevitable eternal bliss of paradise; let not the sorcerers of the Pharaoh be wiser than us in realizing that.

6. There is no comparison between the transient hardships, suffer and agonies of this life and the torment Allāh prepared for the disobedient. The sorcerers were willing to bear the brutal punishment of the Pharaoh in order to save themselves from the greater one awaiting the disbelievers in Hellfire.

7. No matter how much life offers can be enticing we should never compromise in our belief or spare our relation with Allāh for anything.

8. The Pharaoh and the masses were there to support the sorcerers, yet this social pressure didn't impact their decision to distinguish themselves from them and come to believe in Allāh.

Today, social and peers pressure are influencing many of our decisions. Due to that, some sisters compromise in their hijab, attire and intermingling with the opposite sex; some brothers abandon the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ pertaining their looks and behavior and trespass Allāh's borders; and what's even more horrific is to see some Islāmic propagators and students of knowledge in the Wild West compromise in issues of consensus due to social pressure!

9. The sorcerers' immediate decision to abandon their practices, which is their main medium of financial support, once they realized its unlawfulness. Many of us are not willing to compromise our jobs or means of income even if it displeases Allāh Azza wa Jal!

This amazing story, which is replete with emotions and logic, was reiterated in numerous places in the Qur'ān in complementary manner; this is an excerpt from Surat Taha:

Allāh, the Exalted, said to Musa PBUH:

(And throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have crafted. What they have crafted is but the trick of a magician, and the magician will not succeed wherever he is." (69) So the magicians fell down in prostration. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." (70) [Pharaoh] said, "You believed him before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring." (71) They said, "Never will we prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs and [over] He who created us. So decree whatever you are to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life. (72) Indeed, we have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and what you compelled us [to do] of magic. And Allāh is better and more enduring." (73) Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live. (74) But whoever comes to Him as a believer having done righteous deeds - for those will be the highest degrees [in position]: (75) Gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of one who purifies himself.) (The Noble Qur'ān 20: 69-76)

May Allāh grant our hearts contentment with the truth and make our certainty stronger than that of Pharaoh's sorcerers.