{And who determined and [then] guided}

"And who determined": meaning, He set things according to specific measures in their genera, species, individuals, qualities, actions, and lifespans.

"And [then] guided": meaning, He directed each one of them to what proceeds from it and is appropriate for it, whether by nature or by choice, and He facilitated for it that for which it was created by fashioning inclinations and inspirations, erecting signs, and sending down verses. If you were to track the states of plants and animals, you would see in each of them that which confuses the intellects and which the volumes of written records are too narrow to contain. As for the arts of His guidance—glory be to Him and Exalted is He—for man in particular, they are stages beyond that, and further, and further still, by thousands of degrees; it is impossible for the spheres of expression and writing to encompass them, and none can know them except the Subtle, the All-Aware.

Do you think yourself a small body, While within you is enfolded the greater world?

It has been said: "And who determined" the creation according to the forms and appearances in which He created them, and provided for them the means of their livelihood in the form of sustenance and food, "then guided them" to His religion and the knowledge of His oneness by manifesting proofs and clear signs.

It has also been said: He determined their sustenance and guided them to seek it.

According to Muqatil and al-Kalbi: He determined them as males and females, and guided the male on how to approach the female.

According to Mujahid: He determined man and the beasts, and guided man to good and evil, and the beasts to their pastures.

According to al-Suddi: He determined the child in the womb for nine months, or less, or more, and guided it to emerge from it when complete.

It is also said: He determined the benefits in things and guided man to extract them.

The most sound interpretation is that which was mentioned first, and perhaps the other opinions are by way of illustration, not specification. Al-Farra’ claimed that the verse implies an ellipsis, as if the original were "and guided and misguided," but this is baseless. Al-Kisa'i recited qadara (with the tashdid lightened), derived from power (qudrah) or decreeing (taqdir).