Surah Ash Shu'ara Tafseer

قَالَ لِلْمَلَاِ حَوْلَهُ

He said to the chiefs around him:

Since Fir`awn was already doomed, he hastened to stubborn denial, and said to the chiefs around him:

إِنَّ هَذَا لَسَاحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

Verily, this is indeed a well-versed sorcerer.

One who knows a great deal of magic or witchcraft.

Fir`awn was trying to convince them that this was sorcery, not a miracle. Then he provoked them against Musa, trying to make them oppose him and disbelieve in him, and said