Ibn Abbas reported: Their whispering was: If we defeat Musa, we will follow him. And Qatadah said: If he is a magician, we will overcome him, and if he is from the heavens, then he has a matter. And Wahb said that when they said, "Woe to you..." the verse, they said: This is not the saying of a magician.

It appears that they conferred in secret and exchanged words, then they said: These two are surely magicians. So their whispering was in fabricating this speech and falsifying it, out of fear of their overcoming. And to discourage the people from following them. Abu Amr read: "Indeed, these two are surely magicians" in the clear and apparent manner. Ibn Kathir and Hafs read: "Indeed, these two are magicians" in the way of saying: Indeed, Zayd is surely departing. The 'lam' is what distinguishes between the negating 'in' and the softened version of the heavy one.

Ubayy read: "Indeed, these are nothing but two magicians." Ibn Mas'ud read: "That these two are magicians" with 'an' opened and without 'lam', as a substitute for the whispering. It is said regarding the famous reading "Indeed, these two are surely magicians" that it is the language of Al-Harith ibn Kab, who made the dual noun like the nouns that end with 'alif', such as 'asa' and 'sadi', and they did not change it to 'ya' in the genitive and accusative. Some said: 'In' means 'yes'. And 'lasahirani' is the news of a deleted subject, and the 'lam' is included in the sentence, its estimation being: They are two magicians. Abu Ishaq admired it. They named their doctrine the best way and the best Sunnah, and every faction rejoices in what they have.

It was said that they meant the people of their best way, which are the Children of Israel, due to Musa's saying: "So send with us the Children of Israel." And it was said that 'the way' is the name for the leaders of the people and their nobles who are a model for others. It is said: They are the way of their people. It is also said of an individual: He is the way of his people. "So gather your plot" is supported by his saying: "So he gathered his plot." And it was read: "So gather your plot" meaning: Make it a united plan, so that you do not differ and no one among you deviates from it, like a matter agreed upon. They were commanded to come in rows because it is more awe-inspiring in the hearts of the onlookers. It was narrated that they were seventy thousand, and each one of them had a rope and a stick, and they approached in one group. And Abu Ubaidah reported that he interpreted 'row' as the place of prayer, because the people gather there for their festivals and prayers in rows. The validity of this is that it occurs as a name for a specific place of prayer, so they were commanded to come to it. Or it is meant: Come to a place of prayer among the places of prayer. "And indeed, today has succeeded whoever has triumphed" is an interruption. It means: And indeed, he has succeeded who has overcome.