He said, "They are right behind me," meaning: they are waiting for me with that which I will bring to them; he does not mean that they are following him.
﴿قَالَ هُمْ أُولاءِ عَلَى أَثَرِي﴾ أَيْ: يَنْتَظِرُونَنِي بِالَّذِي آتِيهِمْ بِهِ، وَلَيْسَ يَعْنِي أَنهم يتبعونه.
