And if it is told to them: “You heed what is before you and what is behind you; so that you may be blessed.”
“Beware of what is before you” means you should not follow your ancestors who were not reminded of Adhikr by their forefathers, so they were heedless and aimless. You should also ensure that the leaders you follow are believers and not hypocrites upon whom the Lord’s wrath and curse have fallen and who have been killed by the Lord. “Killed by the Lord” means they have no soul, only a body. “Beware of what is behind you” means the legacy you leave behind for the current and future generations should be under the Light of Adhikr. It should benefit thousands of communities of the Lord’s creatures and should not increase the burden of life on any of the Lord’s creatures. Otherwise, you will have to bear a portion of the burden of others you have led astray, along with your burden, on the Day of Judgment, as explained in verses 16:24-25. See explanation 7:37-39; 17:70-71; 36:12.