Tafsir of Al-Muddathir 74:32

{كلا والقمر}

{كلا}: A rejection, following the mention of it being a "reminder," meaning it shall not be a reminder for them, because they do not take heed. Or, it is a deterrent for those who deny that one of the greatest [calamities] is a warner.

{دبر}: Meaning adbara (it turned away), just as qabala means aqbala (it turned toward). From this comes the saying: "They became like yesterday that has passed (al-dābir)." It is also said: It is from the dubr (end/back) of the night and day, meaning when it follows behind. It has been recited as idhā adbara.

{إنها لإحدى الكبر}: This is the response to the oath, or a justification for kallā, with the oath being an interjection for emphasis.

{الكبر}: The plural of al-kubrā (the greatest). The feminine alif was treated like the feminine tā’. When fu‘lah is pluralized as fu‘al, fu‘lā is pluralized upon that pattern. Examples include al-sawāfī as the plural of al-sāfiyā’, and al-qawāṣi‘ as the plural of al-qāṣi‘ā’, as if it were the plural of fā‘ilah.

Meaning: It is one of the greatest calamities or disasters. The meaning of it being "one of them" is that it is unique among them in its magnitude, having no equal, just as you say: "He is one of the men," or "She is one of the women."

{نذيرا}: A tamyīz (specifier) for iḥdā, meaning: It is one of the disasters in terms of warning, just as you say: "She is one of the women in terms of chastity." It is also said to be a ḥāl (state). It is also said that it connects to the beginning of the Surah, meaning: "Arise as a warner." This is among the novel interpretations. In the recitation of Ubayy, it is nadhīrun (nominative), serving as a predicate after a predicate for inna, or with an omitted subject.

{أن يتقدم}: In the position of a nominative as the mubtada’ (subject).

{لمن شاء}: A predicate placed before it, like saying: "For whoever performs ablution, [it is permitted] to pray." Its meaning is absolute: for whoever among them wishes to advance or lag behind, they may do so. The intent of "advancing" and "lagging" is the race toward good and the failure to do so. It is like His saying: "So whoever wills—let him believe; and whoever wills—let him disbelieve" (Al-Kahf: 29). It is also permissible that liman shā’a be a substitute for lil-bashar (for mankind), implying that it is a warning to those accountable and capable: those who, if they wish, advance and succeed, and if they wish, lag behind and perish.

{Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained, except the companions of the right, who will be in gardens, questioning one another about the criminals: "What put you into Saqar?" They will say, "We were not of those who prayed, nor did we use to feed the poor. And we used to indulge in vain talk with the vain talkers, and we used to deny the Day of Recompense, until there came to us the certainty." So there will not benefit them the intercession of any intercessors.}