Tafsir of Al-Qasas 28:48

{When the truth came to them} That is, the Messenger, confirmed by the miraculous Book and other miracles, by which their excuses were severed and their path of argumentation blocked.

{They said: "Why is he not given the like of what was given to Moses?"} Meaning: the Book revealed all at once, the turning of the staff into a serpent, the parting of the sea, and other signs. They brought forth demands based on obstinacy and stubbornness, just as they said: "Why is a treasure not sent down to him, or an angel not come with him?" and similar things.

{Did they not disbelieve} Meaning: their own kind, those who shared their school of thought and their stubbornness—the disbelievers in the time of Moses (peace be upon him).

Al-Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The Arabs existed in the days of Moses (peace be upon him). Thus, the meaning is: "Did their forefathers not disbelieve?"

{In what was given to Moses?} {They said} Regarding Moses and Aaron: {Two sorcerers who support one another} Meaning: they cooperate. It is also read as idh-haran (by assimilation). "Two sorcerers" (sihran) means: possessors of sorcery, or they described them as "two sorceries" as an exaggeration, or they meant two types of sorcery.

{In both} Meaning: in each one of them.

If you ask: To what does the phrase "from before" attach in this interpretation? I say: It attaches to "Did they not disbelieve?"

Alternatively, I may attach it to "was given," in which case the meaning becomes: The people of Mecca who said this statement, just as they disbelieved in Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Quran, they also disbelieved in Moses (peace be upon him) and the Torah. They said of Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them both): "Two sorcerers who support one another," or of the two Books: "Two sorceries that support one another."

This occurred when they sent a delegation to the Jewish leaders in Medina to ask them about Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Jews informed them that he was indeed the one described in their Book. When the delegation returned to the Quraysh and reported what the Jews had said, they responded: "Two sorcerers who support one another."

{Say: "Then bring a Book from Allah that is a better guide than both of them, that I may follow it, if you are truthful."}