Hibees substitute Adrian Sproul scored an incredible hat-trick in the last half hour to inflict one of Rangers' heaviest home defeats for years.
The margin of victory perhaps flattered the visitors, who had survived some strong Rangers pressure. However, the longer the game progressed with Rangers continuing to squander chances, the more Hibs's hopes rose
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Although Sproule was the goal hero, this was a magnificent team effort by Hibs. Rangers were perhaps jaded from their midweek European efforts, but it was a lack-lustre display.
The home team should have taken the lead early on when a quick free-kick by Thomas Buffel released Nacho Novo. The winger's cut-back was missed by Dado Prso, but Steven Thompson drilled his shot at the keeper.
Novo came close when he cut in from the right but curled his effort narrowly wide.
Novo, who was Rangers' main threat in the first half, skipped past David Murphy again, and when his cross was cleared to Alex Rae his drive was deflected to Prso who managed to shoot straight at the keeper from six yards.
At the start of the second half Thompson somehow failed to get a touch to Novo's cross from only five yards out before Bufell slashed his shot wide.
Hibs took the lead against the run of play when Sproule cleverly lobbed the ball over Ronald Waterreus.
It was no surprise when Thompson was taken off for Rangers. Hibs sealed victory with two late goals. Brown left Peter Lovencrand in his wake before Sproule clinically finished low into the corner of the net.
The substitute then scored the third when he out paced Fernando Rickser before rounding the keeper and sliding the ball into the empty net.