Tafseer of The Poets · Ash-Shu'araa · 26:40
That we might follow the magicians if they are the predominant?"
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Perhaps we will then follow the sorcerers — and the meaning of laʿalla (perhaps) here is "so that": so that we may follow the sorcerers if they are the ones who overcome Moses. I say this is its meaning, because the people of Pharaoh were upon the religion of Pharaoh; it is then not reasonable that one who is upon a religion should say: "let me look at the proof of the one who is upon the opposite, perhaps I will then follow my own religion." Rather, one would only say: "I look at it so that I may gain more insight into my religion and thus remain upon it." And thus said the people of Pharaoh. By their words they meant them: لَعَلَّنَا نَتَّبِعُ السَّحَرَةَ إِنْ كَانُوا هُمُ الْغَالِبِينَ (Perhaps we will follow the sorcerers if they are the ones who overcome).
It is said that their gathering, at the time which Pharaoh and Moses had agreed upon to come together, was at Alexandria.
Mention of who said that:
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His words وَقِيلَ لِلنَّاسِ هَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُجْتَمِعُونَ — he said: they were at Alexandria. He said: it is said that the tail of the serpent reached behind the lake on that day. He said: they fled and left Pharaoh alone, while it threatened to attack him, whereupon he said: "take it back, O Moses." He said: as for Pharaoh, what the people saw of him was that he set nothing down on the ground. He said: but on that day filth befell him beneath him. He said: and the releasing of the serpent was in the red tent.
