Tafsir of Al-Muddathir 74:3

That is: single out your Lord for magnification. Magnification (Takbir) is the act of describing Him—the Exalted—with majesty and greatness, both in belief and in speech.

It is narrated that when this was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah is the Greatest," whereupon Khadija magnified Him, rejoiced, and became certain that it was indeed revelation; for the devil does not command such a thing. As for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the command is self-evident and requires no deduction.

It has also been suggested that this may refer to the Takbir of the ritual prayer. Ibn Mardawayh recorded from Abu Huraira that he said: "We asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, what should we say when we enter the prayer?' Then Allah the Exalted revealed: 'And your Lord, magnify,' and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to open the prayer with the Takbir." You know, however, that the revelation of this verse occurred at a time when there was no prayer at all; therefore, if this report is authentic, it must be interpreted metaphorically.

The fa here, and in what follows, is to convey the meaning of a condition. It is as if it were said: "Whatever may have occurred, do not neglect His magnification—the Exalted and Majestic." The fa is causative (jaza’iyya), and because it is—as some have stated—displaced (muzahlaqa), the fact that the object of what follows it precedes it does not violate grammatical rules. Others have said that it was included in their speech due to the assumption of a condition; since it was not in response to an actual condition, it is effectively superfluous, and thus the advancement of the object of what follows it over it is not prohibited for that reason.

Furthermore, mentioning this sentence after the preceding command, while giving it precedence over all other sentences, is an indication of the heightened importance of the matter of Takbir. It is also an allusion—as has been suggested—to the fact that the primary purpose of the command to "arise and warn" is that he should magnify his Lord—the Exalted and Majestic—and declare Him free from polytheism. For the first duty is the knowledge of Allah—the Exalted—and then the declaring of His freedom from what does not befit His Presence. The discourse here is of the style: "I mean you, so listen, O neighbor."

It may also be said that mentioning this sentence in such a manner is a hastening to embolden the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to warn and to show indifference toward anything other than Him—the Exalted and Majestic—as it contains an indication that the forelocks of all creation are in His hand—the Exalted—and all that is besides Him is subdued under His majesty and greatness. Therefore, he should not fear anyone but Him, nor seek anything but Him. It is as if it were said: "Arise and warn, and single out your Lord for magnification, so that nothing may deter you from warning." Ponder this.