“In which you will see neither depression nor elevation.” Mujāhid said: Neither lowering nor rising.

Al-Ḥasan said: “Depression” is what lies low in the earth, while “elevation” is what rises from the hills; that is, you will see neither valley nor hill.

Qatādah said: You will see therein neither fissure nor mound (1).

“On that Day they will follow the Caller”: that is, the voice of the caller who summons them to the standing place of the Resurrection—namely, Isrāfīl. He will place the Horn to his mouth and say: “O decayed bones, torn skins, and scattered flesh! Come forth to be presented before the Most Merciful” (2).

“Without deviation”: that is, with regard to his call. This is an inverted expression; its meaning is that they will not turn aside from the Caller’s summons. They will neither veer to the right nor to the left, nor will they be able to resist it; rather, they will follow him swiftly.

“And all voices will be humbled before the Most Merciful”: that is, they will fall silent, be subdued, and submit. The voices are described as being humbled, though what is intended is their people. “So you will hear nothing but a faint whisper”: that is, the sound of feet walking toward the place of gathering. A faint whisper is a subtle sound, like the sound of camels’ padded feet as they walk. Mujāhid said: It is the hushed murmuring and lowering of voices.

Saʿīd ibn Jubayr narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās that he said: It is the movement of the lips without speech (3).

“On that Day, intercession will not benefit”: that is, intercession will benefit none of the people, “except one whom the Most Merciful has permitted.”