Tafsir of Abasa 80:20

Surah 'Abasa (He Frowned): Verse 20

(20) Then He made the way easy for him.

This verse constitutes the second level (of God's facilitation for man), which is the intermediate level:

His saying, the Exalted: {Then He made the way easy for him.}

In this verse, there are two issues:

The word "the way" (al-sabīl) is in the accusative case (nasb) due to the implied verb (iḍmār) of "He made it easy" (yassarahu). It is interpreted as: "He made the way easy for him."

Scholars have mentioned several opinions regarding its interpretation:

1. First Opinion: Some said that what is meant is the facilitation of his exit from his mother's womb. They argue that the infant's head was initially positioned above and his feet below in the womb. When the time for birth arrives, he turns around. Who grants him this inspiration except God? What confirms this interpretation is that his emergence alive through that narrow passage is one of the greatest wonders.

2. Second Opinion (Abu Muslim): What is meant by this verse is the same as what is meant by His saying: {And We guided him to the two paths [of good and evil]} (Al-Balad: 10). This encompasses distinguishing between every good and evil related to worldly affairs, and between every good and evil related to religion. That is, We made him capable of traversing the path of good and the path of evil. The facilitation (taysīr) includes: granting the ability (iqdār), providing guidance (ta‘rīf), granting intellect (al-‘aql), sending prophets, and revealing books.

3. Third Opinion: This facilitation is specific to matters of religion, because the term "the way" (al-sabīl) suggests that the intended subject is the conditions of this world (al-dunyā), not matters that occur in the Hereafter (al-ākhirah).

The second level (which is the final level) is His saying, the Exalted:

{Then He caused him to die and provided a grave for him. Then, when He wills, He will resurrect him.}