﴿To Him﴾ meaning for that which is hidden or the one who escapes - as Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said. ﴿Guardians﴾ meaning helpers and supporters who alternate in His matter by replacing each one of them his companion and being a substitute for him.

And since the preservation of the front and back requires the preservation of the right and left, and since having a full complement of guardians on the creation is impossible, He said, coming with the preposition: ﴿From before him﴾ meaning from in front of him ﴿and from behind him﴾ and He began to clarify the benefit of the guardians by saying: ﴿They protect him﴾ meaning in his claim from everything he fears ﴿from the command of Allah﴾ meaning that which has complete encompassing.

(p-292) And since this indicates the utmost power, and the habit of those who are established among the kings of the earth is to transgress against their neighbors and seize their kingdoms and oppress them, an increase in power and an expansion in dominion, especially if that neighbor believes, despite his weakness and inability, that a protector will prevent him from being taken, Allah, the Exalted, informed as if He were asked about that [that] He changed this for His independence from it, so He said: ﴿Indeed, Allah﴾ meaning the One who has complete encompassing and perfection ﴿does not change what is with a people﴾ meaning whether it is good or evil ﴿until they change what﴾ meaning that which ﴿is within themselves﴾ of what they used to adorn themselves with from the adornment of righteous deeds and the removal of the traits of the corrupt. So if they change that, what is with them is changed if He wills, even if they are at the height of strength.

And since the kings of this world are often unable to achieve all their desires due to the multitude of opposers among the righteous examples for kingship, Allah, the Exalted, said, adding to what you estimate: So if they change what is within themselves, He will bring upon them evil: ﴿And when Allah intends﴾ meaning the One who has the attributes of perfection ﴿for a people﴾ meaning even if they are at the height of strength ﴿evil, there is no repeller for it﴾ from anyone besides Him, and this verse has been previously clarified in Al-Anfal with further explanation.

(p-293) And since everyone beneath Him in rank cannot stand in His place in any way, He said: ﴿And what is with them﴾ and clarified the lowliness of all ranks from His rank by saying: "from below" and emphasized the negation [by saying]: ﴿from﴾. And since the context is clear that there is no escape for them from what He intends, He used a form of a deficient doer indicating the negation of the slightest aspects of authority, so how about what is above it, He said: ﴿A protector﴾ meaning [from] a refuge that shelters them, by the fact that the action with them of saving and aiding is what the near one does with his closest ally.