Indeed, this is a knowledgeable magician, meaning one who is knowledgeable in magic and skilled in it. He has captivated the eyes of the people with one of his tricks, until it seemed to them that the staff was a serpent, and the man was white. If you say that this statement is attributed to Pharaoh in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, and that he said it to the elite, and it is attributed here to them, I say: he said it, and they said it. So, his saying is reported, and then their words are mentioned here. Or he said it initially, and the elite received it from him, and then they said it to their followers. Or they said it about him to the people in a manner of conveying, as kings do. One of them sees a matter and speaks of it to those close to him, and then the close ones convey it to the general public. The evidence for this is that they responded to him in their saying: 'Delay him and his brother, and send to the cities gatherers who will bring you every knowledgeable magician.' And it is read as 'sahar,' meaning they will bring you every magician like him in knowledge and skill, or better than him.

And this was a conspiracy with the Copts. And their saying: 'So what do you command?' means: if I consult you and you advise me with something. It is said: 'So what do you command?' is from Pharaoh's words, which he said to the elite when they said to him: 'Indeed, this is a knowledgeable magician who wants to expel you.' As if it were said: 'So what do you command?' They said: 'Delay him and his brother.' The meaning of 'delay him and his brother' is to postpone them and remove them from you until you see your opinion about them and deliberate their matter. And it is said: 'Imprison them.'

And it is read: 'Arj'ih,' with the hamzah. And 'Arjih,' from 'arjā' and 'arjāh.'