Tafsir of Al-Lail 92:3

This refers to the Possessor of Great Power, who created the two categories of animals that possess these characteristics, or specifically of the children of Adam. Ibn Abbas, al-Hasan, and al-Kalbi said: The intended meaning of "the male" is Adam, peace be upon him, and "the female" is Eve, may God Almighty be pleased with her.

Regardless of the interpretation, "ma" (what) is a relative pronoun meaning "man" (the One/Who). It was preferred over "man" to emphasize the attribute, as you have heard. It is also possible that it is an infinitive particle, though that is not as strong. It has been recited as "wa-alladhi khalaqa" (And the One who created).

Ibn Mas’ud recited it as "wa-adh-dhakaru wa-al-untha" (And the male and the female), and Ibn Abbas followed him in this, as recorded by Ibn al-Najjar in Tarikh Baghdad via the path of al-Dahhak from him. It has also been attributed to Ali, may God honor his countenance. Al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, and others narrated from Alqamah that he traveled to the Levant and sat with Abu al-Darda, may God be pleased with him. Abu al-Darda asked him, "Who are you?" He replied, "From the people of Kufa." He said, "How did you hear the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) recite 'By the night when it covers'?" Alqamah said, "And the male and the female." Abu al-Darda replied, "I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) recite it this way, yet these people want me to recite it as 'And the One who created the male and the female.' By God, I will not follow them."

You know that this is an irregular (shadhdh) recitation transmitted by single chains of narration (ahad), and it is not permissible to recite with it. However, for those who heard it from the Prophet (peace be upon him), it is considered mutawatir (mass-transmitted), making it permissible for them to recite it that way.

Tha’lab mentioned that some of the predecessors recited it as "wa-ma khalaqa adh-dhakari" with a kasra on the 'ra' [in dhakari]. Al-Zamakhshari narrated this from al-Kisa'i and explained it as a substitution for the "ma" which functions as a relative noun, meaning "And that which God created—the male and the female," or "And God's creation—the male and the female." It has been said that it can also be explained by assuming an infinitive sense, based on "ma" being an infinitive particle, meaning "And the creation of the male and the female," similar to the verse:

The petitioners circle his doors, Just as the monk circles the church.

[In this example], the word "monk" is in the genitive case (al-rahibi) based on the implied articulation of an infinitive, meaning "like the circling (tawaf) of the monk around the church."