So they threw down, meaning: it resulted from the words of Moses, blessings and peace be upon him, and his following that they threw down their ropes and staffs which they had prepared for magic. And they said, swearing: 'By the might of Pharaoh,' confirming with various forms of emphasis, 'Indeed, we are the ones who will prevail,' a statement of one who is confident in himself, determined not to leave any form of magic that he knows without bringing it forth. So whoever swears by other than Allah, as if he says: 'By the life of so-and-so,' or 'By the right of his head,' and the like, he is following this ignorance.