فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ
Indeed, I am near.
No explicit qul (say) occurs between the question and fa-innī qarīb. This is an observable contrast with passages shaped as yasʾalūnaka … qul. One may discuss how the direct divine reply fits the theme of nearness.
But the absence of an overt qul does not automatically compel a grammatically deleted imperative. The existing expression makes coherent sense. Describe what is missing from the surface, then clearly mark any stronger reconstruction as an interpretation.