(96–101) His words, Most High: “We certainly sent Moses with Our signs and clear authority.”

Through to the end of the account. (1)

Allah Most High says: “We certainly sent Moses,” son of Imran, “with Our signs,” which demonstrated the truthfulness of what he brought, such as the staff, the hand, and other signs Allah caused to appear at the hands of Moses—peace be upon him.

“And clear authority”—that is, an evident and unmistakable proof, as manifest as the sun.

“To Pharaoh and his chiefs”—that is, the notables of his people, for they were the leaders whom others followed. Yet they did not yield to the signs Moses possessed and showed them, as was explained at length earlier in Surah al-Arāf. Instead, “they followed Pharaoh’s command, though Pharaoh’s command was not rightly guided.” Rather, he was astray and misguided, commanding nothing but sheer harm. Thus, when his people followed him, he led them to ruin and destroyed them.