"Likewise, there did not come to those before them"—meaning before your people, O Muhammad—that is: likewise, there did not come to those before them "any messenger, but they said, 'A magician or a madman.'"
Muhammad said: The meaning is: but they said, "This is a magician or a madman."
﴿كَذَلِكَ مَا أَتَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قبلهم﴾ من قبل قَوْمك يَا مُحَمَّد، أَي: هَكَذَا مَا أَتَى الَّذين مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ ﴿مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلا قَالُوا سَاحر أَو مَجْنُون﴾.
قَالَ محمدٌ: الْمَعْنى: إِلَّا قَالُوا: هَذَا سَاحر أَو مَجْنُون.
