أسباب السماوات
that I may arrive at the ways -- the ways of the heavens,
Sa`id bin Jubayr and Abu Salih said,
"The gates of the heavens.''
Or it was said, the ways of the heavens.
فٲطلع إلى إله موسى وإني ﻻأظنه كاذبا
and I may look upon the God of Musa, but verily, I think him to be a liar.
Because of his disbelief and defiance, he did not believe that Allah had sent Musa to him.
Allah says:
وكذلك زين لفرعون سوء عمله وصد عن السبيل
Thus it was made fair seeming, in Fir`awn's eyes, the evil of his deeds, and he was hindered from the path;
means, this act of his (building the tower), by means of which he wanted to deceive his people and make them think that he could prove that Musa was lying.
Allah says:
وما كيد فرعون إﻻ في تباب
and the plot of Fir`awn led to nothing but loss and destruction.
Ibn Abbas and Mujahid said,
"Meaning nothing but ruin.''