Sihr At-Takhyil is described as a form of witchcraft that affects a person's perception, making things appear different from their actual form. The Qur'anic passages below describe the sorcerers of Pharaoh and the apparent movement of their ropes.
Sihr At-Takhyil (Magic of) False Appearance of Objects
Allah (
SWT) says in the noble Qur'an:
They said, "Moses, will you throw something down or shall we be the ones to throw," He said, "You throw!" So when, they charmed people's eyes and overawed them. They produced a splendid sihr. And We revealed to Moses: 'Cast thy staff,' And lo, it forthwith swallowed up their lying invention, So the truth came to pass, and false was proved what they were doing, So they were vanquished there, and they turned about, humbled. And the sorcerers were cast down, bowing themselves. They said, 'We believe in the Lord of Moses and Aaron'.
Al-Qur'an, 7:117-122
They said, "Moses, either you will cast (something) or shall we be the first to cast (a spell)? It seemed to him under the effect of their sihr that their ropes and stuff were sliding.”
Al-Qur'an, 17:65-66
Symptoms
- A fixed object would appear to be mobile, while a mobile object would appear to be fixed for the viewer
- A small object would appear large, while a large object would appear small for the viewer
- The false appearance of objects. (Under the effect of the magic of Pharaoh's sorcerers, ropes and rods appeared to viewers as real snakes)