Q: (41) And listen on the Day the Caller calls...

This points to the ultimate purpose of glorification (Tasbīḥ), meaning: Occupy yourself with declaring God's transcendence and await the Caller, similar to His saying: {And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty} (Al-Hijr: 99). In this verse, there are several issues:

Issue 1: What is being listened to?

We say there are three possible interpretations:

1. The object is omitted entirely. The intent is simply: "Be a listener," and do not be like those who turn away in heedlessness. It is said, "So-and-so is a listening, obedient man," without specifying what is heard, just as one says, "So-and-so is a cup-bearer," or "So-and-so gives and withholds."
2. Listen to what is revealed to you.
3. Listen to the call of the Caller.

Issue 2: By what verb is {on the Day the Caller calls} (yawma yunādī al-munād) in the accusative case?

This depends on the first issue:

• If we hold that listen (istamiʿ) has no direct object, then its governing factor is implied by the subsequent verse: {the Day of Emergence} (Q: 42). The meaning is: "They will emerge on the Day the Caller calls."
• If we hold that its object is what is revealed to you, the structure is: (And listen) to what is revealed (on the Day the Caller calls).

Another possibility is that what is revealed is the object: Hear what is revealed to you: {On the Day the Caller calls}.

If it is argued that listen is coordinated with be patient and glorify (which occur in this world), then the listening must also occur in this world, but what is revealed {on the Day the Caller calls} is not heard in this world.

We reply: This is not necessary, as it is permissible to say, "Pray (in this world) and enter Paradise (in the Hereafter)." Similarly here. It is also possible that listen means wait, thus allowing for both meanings (waiting in this world).

If we hold that listen refers to hearing the Shout (the Caller's cry: "O bones, become whole!"), the question raised earlier is answered by what we state now: Allah Almighty said: {And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and on earth will swoon away, except whom Allah wills} (Az-Zumar: 68). We say that "whom Allah wills" are those who knew the Shout was coming and awoke to it, so it did not startle them—like one who sees lightning flash and knows a strong thunder will follow, so he watches and listens to it. Another person is heedless, and when the thunder strikes powerfully, he might faint, while the listener is unaffected. Thus, the command is to listen so that you are not among those who swoon away on that Day.

Issue 3: What is the Caller calling?

There are probable, transmitted, and rational interpretations. We can limit them by saying the Caller is either Allah Almighty, the Angels, or others (i.e., the accountable humans and jinn, outwardly). Others do not call.

If the Caller is Allah Almighty, there are several possibilities:

1. He calls out: {Gather those who wronged, and their spouses} (As-Saffat: 22).
2. He calls out: {Cast into Hell every stubborn disbeliever} (Q: 24), along with the command: {Enter it in peace} (Q: 34). This is supported by His saying: {Take him and shackle him} (Al-Haqqah: 30). This is indicated by His saying: {On the Day the Caller calls from a near place} (Q: 41), and He said: {And they will be seized from a near place} (Saba: 51).
3. He calls out something else, based on His saying: {And [He will call out to them], "Where are My partners?"} and similar verses.

If the Caller is other than Allah, there are also possibilities:

1. The call of Israfil: "O decayed bones, gather for reunion and listen for judgment."
2. A call to the soul: "O soul, return to your Lord, to enter your place in Paradise or the Fire."
3. A caller calls some to Paradise and others to the Fire, as He said: {A party in Paradise and a party in the Blaze} (Ash-Shura: 7).

If the Caller is one of the accountable beings: It might be what is mentioned between Allah's words: {And they will call out, "O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us"} (Az-Zukhruf: 77), or something else.

However, the apparent meaning points to one of the first two possibilities (Allah or an Angel), because the definite article in "the Caller" (al-munād) implies known status. The role of an Angel as a caller on that Day is established even if not previously mentioned, just as one might say, "The Messenger of Allah said..." without prior mention.

As for Allah being the Caller, it has already been established in this Surah by His saying: {Cast} (Q: 24), which is a call, and His saying: {On the Day We say to Hell} (Q: 30), which is also a call. The accountable being is not like this.

His saying {from a near place} indicates that the sound will not be hidden from anyone; everyone will hear it equally. Based on this, it is not far-fetched to interpret the Caller as Allah Almighty, because "near place" does not refer to physical location but to the clarity of the call, which is closest from Allah. This is like what He said in this Surah: {And We are nearer to him than [his] jugular vein} (Q: 16), which is not a physical place.

Then Allah Almighty said:

! 7 < { On the Day they hear the Shout in truth. That is the Day of Emergence. } > 7

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