Then he explained the reason for not granting them victory by saying: ﴿My signs were indeed recited﴾. And since their greatness, which deserved the addition to Him, is sufficient in urging belief merely by hearing it, he built for the action his saying: ﴿recited to you﴾, meaning it is among the clearest of things, from My allies, who are the guiding and sincere ones. ﴿So you were﴾, meaning a state that is like a nature ﴿on your heels﴾ at the time of its recitation ﴿you were retreating﴾, meaning you were going back in retreat either physically or in meaning. And the one walking likewise does not look behind him. Its present tense with the kasra is not read with the damma, even if it were rare, indicating that it is a return of arrogance and pride, so it is done slowly. And if it were read with the damma, it would indicate strength, thus understanding the aversion and fleeing. It is said in the dictionary: 'He retreated on his heels, he retreats and he retreats: he returned from what he was upon of good, and in evil it is little, and from the matter, it is retreating and retreating and retreating.' Or, as you mentioned, it indicates what you estimate: the state of your being.