Al-Kashshaf on Al-A'raf 7:110

Surah Al-A'raf 7:110

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ﱹ ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ ﱿ ﲀ

Who wants to expel you from your land [through magic], so what do you instruct?"

{Indeed, this is a learned magician} Meaning: One who is knowledgeable in magic and skilled in it. He has captivated people’s eyes with one of his deceptions, to the point that he made them imagine the staff to be a living snake and the dark-skinned to be white.

If you ask: This statement is attributed to Pharaoh in Surah al-Shu‘ara’, where he says it to the elite, yet here it is attributed to them. How is this?

I say: He said it, and they said it. The Quran narrates his statement there and theirs here. Or, he said it first, and the elite received it from him and repeated it to those behind them. Or, they said it on his behalf to the people as a form of communication, just as kings do: one of them forms an opinion, speaks it to his inner circle, and then the inner circle conveys it to the general public. The evidence for this is their response: {“Postpone him and his brother, and send gatherers to the cities, who will bring you every learned magician.”}

It is also recited as sahhar (a master of magic), meaning they would bring him every magician equal to him in knowledge and skill, or even better. This was a conspiracy with the Copts.

Their statement {“What do you command?”} comes from the verb amartuhu (I consulted him), meaning: when you consult someone and he advises you with an opinion. It is also said that {“What do you command?”} is the speech of Pharaoh, said to the elite when they told him, “Indeed, this is a learned magician who wants to drive you out.” It is as if it were said: “What do you command?” and they replied: “Postpone him and his brother.”

The meaning of {“Postpone him and his brother”} is: delay them and keep them away from you until you see your opinion regarding them and manage their affair. It is also said: “Imprison them.” It is recited as arji’hu (with a hamza) and arjih (without), both derived from arja’ahu and arjahahu (to delay).

{And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Is there for us a reward if we are the victors?" He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will be among those brought near."}

Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:109-112

Al-Kashshaf

{Indeed, this is a learned magician} Meaning: One who is knowledgeable in magic and skilled in it. He has captivated people’s eyes with one of his deceptions, to the point that he made them imagine the staff to be a living snake and the dark-skinned to be white.

{And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Is there for us a reward if we are the victors?" He said, "Yes, and indeed, you will be among those brought near."}