Abasa 80:19 - Linguistic Miracle

From a sperm-drop did He create him then determined for him.

Again the same tone and theme of harsh criticism. Imagine a father telling a disobedient son - “Do you know how much I spent on your education? $200,000!” He could have just said, “I spent $200,000 on your education!” That first question is to really drive the point home to his child and to intensify not only the harshness of his own statements, but also the magnitude of the child’s disobedience. From what worthless little thing did I create you? From a sperm-drop! This is your reality.

Then determined for him - A lot has been said regarding the meaning of these words. Scholars normally took them to mean the stages of creation, from the sperm drop to an infant, and then to the different stages of life such as a child, to youth to adulthood. Others said it refers to the proportioning of the limbs. I disagree with all of these because I want to remain true to the text of the surah.

This refers to two things, the path of life and the path that Allah has determined for all of us to follow - of obedience to him, of righteousness. We will see it come together later in the surah.