Then he explained his informing of that by his knowledge of what this news includes. He said: ﴿He knows what is before them﴾, meaning of what [they have not] done, ﴿and what is behind them﴾, meaning of what they have done. Or the first could refer to what they have done and the second to what they have not done. This is because you are aware of what is in front of you, while what is behind you is hidden from you. This means that His knowledge encompasses their conditions, past, present, and future. Nothing is hidden from Him. Then he clarified the implication of the first sentence by saying: ﴿And they do not intercede﴾ [meaning] in this world or in the Hereafter ﴿except for whom He has approved﴾. So do not hope for their intercession for you without His approval. And by the implication of the second sentence, he said: ﴿And they are, from His fear, apprehensive﴾, meaning not from other than it ﴿always apprehensive﴾.