Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:48

This is an appositional phrase (‘atf bayan) for "the Lord of the Worlds," or a substitute (badal) for it. It was brought forth to dispel the illusion that they intended Pharaoh—since his ignorant people used to call him by that title—and to signify that the cause of their belief in Him, Glorified be He, was the overwhelming miracles He performed at the hands of Moses and Aaron. The meaning of Him, Majestic and Exalted, being their Lord is that He is their Creator and the Master of their affairs.

It is also permitted that the attribution of the Lordship to them is in consideration of their description of Him, Glorified be He, through the aforementioned statements of Moses, peace be upon him: "The Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them," his saying, "The Lord of your first forefathers," and his saying, "The Lord of the East and the West and whatever is between them." It is as if they said: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds whom Moses and Aaron described." The weakness of this interpretation is not hidden, even if it were conceded that they had heard the aforementioned descriptions after being gathered from the cities.