(41–45) “And listen for the Day when the caller calls from a nearby place—* the Day they hear the Blast in all truth. That is the Day of Emergence. * Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the final return, * on the Day the earth splits open from them as they hasten forth. That is a gathering easy for Us. * We know best what they say, and you are not set over them to compel them. So remind by means of the Quran whoever fears My warning.”
That is: Listen with your heart to the call of the caller—Isrāfīl (peace be upon him)—when he blows the Trumpet “from a nearby place” to the creatures (1).
“The day they hear the Blast”: that is, all creatures will hear that terrifying, overwhelming Blast “in all truth,” concerning which there is neither doubt nor uncertainty.
“That is the Day of Emergence” from the graves, which the One capable of all things alone will bring about. Hence He said: “Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the final return, on the Day the earth splits open from them” ⦗808⦘—that is, from the dead (2).
“As they hasten forth”: that is, they will hasten to answer the one calling them to the gathering place of the Resurrection. “That is a gathering easy for Us”: that is, it is effortless (3) and easy for Allah, involving neither fatigue nor hardship.
“We know best what they say” to you of hurtful things that cause you grief. Since We know that best, you already know how We care for you, facilitate your affairs, and grant you victory over your enemies. So let your heart rejoice, let your soul be reassured, and know that We are more merciful and compassionate toward you than you are toward yourself. Nothing remains for you but to await Allah’s promise and follow the example of the messengers of firm resolve.
“You are not set over them to compel them”—that is, you have not been given authority over them. “You are only a warner, and every people has a guide.” Hence He said: “So remind by means of the Quran whoever fears My warning.” The reminder [consists of] calling to mind what is already established in reason and innate nature: loving, preferring, and doing good, and hating and shunning evil. Only one who fears Allah’s warning takes heed when reminded. As for one who neither fears the warning nor believes in it, the benefit of reminding him is to establish the proof against him, lest he say, “No bearer of good news or warner ever came to us.”
End of the Commentary on Surah (Qāf). Praise be to Allah at the beginning and the end, outwardly and inwardly.
Commentary on Surah al-Dhāriyāt
Meccan