Falamma jaahum moosa bi-ayatina bayyinatin qaloo ma hatha illa sihrun muftaran wama (surah Qasas: 36)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(28:36) Then, when Moses came to those people with Our clear Signs, they said"This is nothing but false magic, *49 and we have never heard of such things in the time of our forefathers. *50

Falammaa jaaa`ahum Moosaa bi Aayaatinaa baiyinaatin qaaloo maa haazaaa illaa sihrum muftaranw wa maa sami`naa bihaazaa feee aabaaa`inal awwaleen

*49) The words of the Text mean "Fabricated or forged magic." If fabrication is taken to mean falsehood, it would mean, "The staff's turning into a serpent and the shining of the hand is not any real change in the nature of the thing itself, but a mere illusion, which this man calls a miracle in order to deceive us." And if it is taken to mean a forgery it will imply: "This person has forged something which appears to be a staff; but when it is thrown on the ground, it moves like a snake. As for the hand, he has rubbed something on it so that when he draws it out of the armpit, it shines. He himself works these magical tricks but tries to make us believe that these are miracles which God has granted him."
*50) The reference is to the teachings which the Prophet Moses had presented while conveying this message of Tauhid. The details have been given at other places in the Qur'an. For example, according to Surah An-Naziyat: 18-19, he said to Pharaoh: "Will you mind to purify yourself, that I may guide you to your Lord so that you may have fear (of Him)?" And in Surah Ta Ha: 47-48: "We have come to you with Signs from your Lord; peace is for him who follows the Right Way. We have been informed by Revelation that there is punishment for him who rejects it and turns away." And: "We are Messengers from your Lord: so let the Israelites go with us." It was about these things that Pharaoh said, "Even our forefathers had never heard that there was a Being more powerful than Pharaoh of Egypt, Who was authorised to command him, to punish him, to send a man to his court to convey His instructions to him, and to warn the king of Egypt to fear Him. These are strange things which we are hearing today from a man like you."