Tafsir of Al-Muddathir 74:37

Surah Al-Muddaththir (74): Verse 37

(37) Li-man shā'a minkum... (For whoever of you wills to advance or stay behind.)

There are two interpretations regarding the structure and meaning of this phrase:

The First View: The phrase لِمَنْ شَاءَ (li-man shā'a - for whoever wills) is in the nominative case (الرَّفْع) as the subject (or predicate, depending on the implied structure), and the predicate (الخَبَر) precedes it. The meaning is: Advancement and delay are open to whomever among you wills them. The intended meaning of "advancement" (التَّقَدُّم) and "delay" (التَّأَخُّر) is precedence in good deeds and lagging behind them. This aligns with the meaning of: $\text{{فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ}} (Whoever wills, let him believe, and whoever wills, let him disbelieve) (Al-Kahf: 29).

The Second View: لِمَنْ شَاءَ (li-man shā'a) is an appositive (بَدَل) for the preceding phrase لِلْبَشَرِ (for mankind). The meaning is: This is a warning for whoever among you wills to advance or stay behind. This is analogous to the structure in: \text{{وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ}} (And [due to] Allah is the Hajj to the House for the people who are able) (Al 'Imran: 97).

The Mu'tazila used this verse as evidence for the doctrine that the servant has the capacity (تَمَكُّن) to perform an action and is not compelled (مَجْبُور) regarding it.

The Response: This verse indicates that the servant's action is contingent upon their will (مَشِيئَة). However, the servant's will itself is contingent upon the Will of Allah, based on His saying: \text{{وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ}} (And you do not will except that Allah wills) (Al-Insan: 3). When this is established, the verse becomes evidence for us (the Ash'aris/Sunnis) against them.

Other Responses Cited by the Companions (Ash'ari scholars):

1. Threat/Warning: The attribution of the will to the addressees is for the purpose of threatening them, similar to: \text{{فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ}}$ (Whoever wills, let him believe, and whoever wills, let him disbelieve) (Al-Kahf: 29).
2. Divine Will: The will mentioned here belongs to Allah, meaning: "for whoever Allah wills among you to advance or stay behind."

Surah Al-Muddaththir (74): Verses 38-39

(38) Kullu nafsin bimā kasabat rahīnah. (Every soul is held in pledge for what it has earned.) (39) Illā aṣḥāb al-yamīn. (Except the companions of the right hand.)