And when he mentioned the punishment and presented it, he did so to make the listener more receptive to what is being requested from him. He followed it with the cause in it, indicating what would rectify the affairs of the Hereafter, which is where the return and the destination are. He said, confirming for the sake of their denial: "Indeed, We have sent" meaning with what We possess of greatness "to you" O people of Makkah, specifically for you, and to all whom the call reaches generally, "a Messenger" [meaning] indeed, he is Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, the Seal of the Prophets and their Imam, "a witness against you" meaning with what you do, to bear witness when it is requested from him with what is the truth on the Day We will extract from every nation a witness, and that is the Day of Resurrection.

And when this Surah was among the first to be revealed, while the religion was weak and its people were in extreme scarcity and humiliation, it was to serve as a lesson for those whose affairs had come to be in a time when the religion had become strange, as it was then. And Pharaoh was the most tyrannical of people in his time, and he compelled them, and he was the most deceitful and cunning among them. The Children of Israel were in extreme humiliation to him and obedience to his command. Yet, when Allah sent to him Moses, peace be upon him, whom Pharaoh killed the sons of the Children of Israel for the sake of being among those he killed, because it was said to him that a child would be born to the Children of Israel, whose destruction of the Egyptians would be by his hand. He was manifested by it and destroyed him by his strength, and saved the Children of Israel despite their weakness. Allah, glorified and exalted is He, said, alerting Quraysh and the Arabs and others that whoever Allah is with should not be resisted, even if he is the weakest of creation. And as a reminder to them to consider the state of this tyrant who exceeds them in kingship and the multitude of soldiers and wealth: "As We sent" meaning with what We possess of greatness "to Pharaoh" meaning the king of Egypt "a Messenger" and perhaps he mentioned him in an indefinite form to indicate that he is not from the people of Pharaoh, so there is no protector for him from a close friend or an intercessor who is obeyed, to make it known that whoever has a tribe that defends him is more deserving of support.