Tafsir of Al-Ma'aarij 70:17

"It calls" (tad'u) is the predicate of an implied subject, or a nested circumstantial qualifier (hal), or a synonymous one, or a singular one; or it is a predicate following another predicate according to the reading of the nominative case (raf'), so do not be heedless of this.

The calling is understood in its literal sense, as has been narrated from Ibn Abbas and others: Allah the Exalted creates in it (the Fire) the ability to speak, just as He creates it in their skins, hands, and feet, so it calls them by their names and the names of their fathers. It is narrated that it says to them, "Come to me, come to me, O disbeliever, O hypocrite!"

It is also permissible that the meaning intended is "drawing" or "summoning," as in the statement of Dhu al-Rumma describing a wild bull: He passed the night at Wahbayn, passing through its pasture, / From [the land of] Dhu al-Fawaris, its nose pulling (tad'u) the damp soil.

Similar to this is his other statement: The nights of diversion attract (yatbini) me, so I follow them, / As if I am striking into an abyss of play.

It is not far-fetched to say that their suitability for it or their deserving of it—according to what has been said regarding its calling to them—is what is intended, and this is expressed as "calling" by way of metaphor.

Tha'lab said: "It calls" (tad'u) means "it destroys" (tuhliku), derived from the Arabs' saying, "May Allah call you" (da'aka Allah), meaning "may He destroy you." Al-Khalil narrated this from them. In al-Asas, it is stated: "Allah called him with what he dislikes" means He brought it down upon him; and "the calls of fate" (dawae al-dahr) refers to its vicissitudes. From this is the saying: May Allah call you, O man, with a viper, / When eyes are asleep, it shall creep upon you.

He favored the view that this is a literal meaning of "calling," though it is not widely known, and there is hesitation regarding it. It is also permissible that the calling is done by its keepers (zabaniyah), and it is attributed to the Fire metaphorically, or the speech is based on an implied genitive addition—meaning: "it calls its keepers."

"The one who turned his back" (man adbara) in the world away from the Truth.

"And turned away" (tawalla)—meaning, he withdrew from obedience.