He said when he did not find a convincing argument against the Copts that would stir their zeal for themselves. This was because he knew the truth of what Moses brought and its manifestation, and the acceptance of minds towards it. He feared that people would follow him and leave him, and he felt a great weakness within himself by contemplating his words, both singular and compound, knowing their significance: "Have you come to us to drive us out of our land?" This land which we possess, "by your magic, O Moses." So he made it appear to his followers that this was magic. This, along with what they were accustomed to in their habit of misguidance, diverted them from following what they saw of the clarity.