Tafsir of Abasa 80:19

Then He answered that inquiry by saying: **{From a sperm-drop He created him}**. Undoubtedly, the sperm-drop (*nuṭfah*) is a lowly, insignificant thing. The purpose here is that whoever originates from such a humble thing, arrogance and defiance are not fitting for him.

Then He said: **{Then He determined him}** (*fa-qaddarahu*). There are several interpretations for this:

1. **Al-Farra'** said: He determined him through stages: a sperm-drop, then a clinging clot (*'alaqah*), until the completion of his creation, whether male or female, fortunate or wretched. 2. **Al-Zajjaj** said: The meaning is that He proportioned him to be sound/complete, just as He said: **{Do you disbelieve in the One Who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then fashioned you as a man?}** (Al-Kahf: 37). 3. It is possible that what is meant is that He determined the quantity and quality of every limb with the measure appropriate to his benefit, similar to His saying: **{And He created everything and determined it with a precise determination}** (Al-Furqan: 2).