﴿ قَالَ هُمْ أُو۟لَآءِ عَلَىٰٓ أَثَرِى وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَىٰ ﴾

“He answered: "They are treading in my footsteps while I have hastened unto Thee, O my Sustainer, so that Thou might be well-pleased [with me]."”

He said ‘They are close behind me coming upon my track and I hastened to You my Lord that You may be pleased’ with me in other words to please you even more — before giving the response he gives an excuse according to what he supposed was the situation with his people