Allah said:

[ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا]

(Then after them We sent ) meaning ofter these Messengers,

[مُّوسَى وَهَـرُونَ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ]

(Musa and Harun to Fir`awn and his chiefs,) meaning his people

[بِـَايَـتِنَآ]

(with Our Ayat.) meaning; `Our proofs and evidences.'

[فَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوْماً مُّجْرِمِينَ]

(But they behaved arrogantly, and were a people who were criminals.) meaning they were too arrogant to follow the truth and submit to it, and they were criminals.

[فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ عِندِنَا قَالُواْ إِنَّ هَـذَا لَسِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ]

(So, when came to them the truth from us, they said: "This is indeed clear magic.'') They were as if they gave an oath that what they had said was the truth. But they knew that what they were saying was a mere lie. As Allah said:

[وَجَحَدُواْ بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْماً وَعُلُوّاً]

(And they belied them wrongfully and arrogantly, though they themselves were convinced thereof. )(27:14) Musa criticized them saying:

[أَتقُولُونَ لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَكُمْ أَسِحْرٌ هَـذَا وَلاَ يُفْلِحُ السَّـحِرُونَقَالُواْ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَلْفِتَنَا]

("Say you (this) about the truth when it has come to you Is this magic But the magicians will never be successful.'' They said: "Have you come to us to turn us away...)

[عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءابَاءَنَا]

(from that we found our fathers following) their religion.

[وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا]

(and that you two may have...)

[الْكِبْرِيَآءُ]

(greatness) means grandeur and leadership

[فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ]

(...in the land, We are not going to believe you two!'')

[وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ائْتُونِى بِكُلِّ سَـحِرٍ عَلِيمٍ - فَلَمَّا جَآءَ السَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُمْ مُّوسَى أَلْقُواْ مَآ أَنتُمْ مُّلْقُونَ - فَلَمَّآ أَلْقُواْ قَالَ مُوسَى مَا جِئْتُمْ بِهِ السِّحْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ - وَيُحِقُّ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَـتِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُجْرِمُونَ ]

(79. And Fir`awn said: "Bring me every well-versed sorcerer.'' (80. And when the sorcerers came, Musa said to them: "Cast down what you want to cast!'') (81. Then when they had cast down, Musa said: "What you have brought is sorcery, Allah will surely make it of no effect. Verily, Allah does not set right the work of the evildoers.) (82. "And Allah will establish and make apparent the truth by His Words, however much the criminals may hate (it).'')