Tafsir of Abasa 80:27

The Fa (particle of consequence) in His statement, "Then We caused to grow therein grain," does not indicate an immediate chronological sequence between the splitting (of the earth) and the rains, nor between the splitting and the sprouting of the grain without delay. The intended meaning of "growth" is that which emerges from the earth until it matures and forms grain, for the splitting of the earth by the growth continues to increase and widen until that stage is reached.

Moreover, the flow of the noble arrangement aims to demonstrate the blessings overflowing from His Divine Presence in a wondrous manner that transcends customary habits, as indicated by following the two verbs with the two verbal nouns (the splitting and the pouring). Thus, inserting the action of the one upon whom the blessing is bestowed into the realization of these blessings would be detrimental to the intended goal, and this is a subject open to discussion.

It has been argued against this that the "splitting" (in the sense of plowing) does not appear in the case of grapes, olives, and date palms. The response is that it is not a requirement of conjunction that the conjoined clause be restricted by all the qualifications applied to the clause it is joined to. It is possible that the mention of plowing was by way of example, or that it was intended to include digging.

It has also been suggested that the intended meaning is the splitting of the earth by springs, assuming that the "pouring of water" refers to rainfall, and this includes the running of rivers. This is countered by the fact that the sequence of splitting following the pouring of water—indicated by the particle of delay (thumma)—precludes this. Furthermore, the dependency of the growth upon the combination of pouring and splitting in the mentioned sense does not align with His saying: "And We sent down from the rain clouds pouring water, that We might bring forth thereby grain..." (Surah An-Naba, 14-15), because it suggests the independence of the pouring and the sending down of rain in that process. It is argued in defense that spring water originates from rain, not from vapors trapped in the earth. It is not hidden from any observant person that this perspective is far-fetched and artificial.

The "grain" (habba) refers to the genus of grains that are used for sustenance and storage, such as wheat, barley, corn, and others.