Tafsir of Abasa 80:17-23

{ قُتِلَ الْإِنسَانُ }: This is an imprecation against him. It is among the most severe of their curses, for killing is the ultimate of worldly hardships and horrors.

{ مَا أَكْفَرَهُ }: An expression of astonishment at his excessive ingratitude for the blessings of Allah. You will not find a style more harsh, more abrasive in touch, more indicative of wrath, more far-reaching in condemnation—despite its brevity—nor more comprehensive in its intensity, given its concise structure.

Then, He begins to describe his state from the inception of his creation until its end: how he is submerged in the roots and branches of blessings, yet remains buried in ingratitude, arrogance, and a lack of regard for the blessings he moves within, and for the duty of gratitude incumbent upon him.

From what base, insignificant thing did He create him? Then He clarifies that thing by saying:

He created him from a drop of fluid, then He proportioned him, preparing him for what is suitable for him and what is specific to him. This is similar to the verse: { وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيرًا } (Al-Furqan: 2).

The word "path" (al-sabil) is in the accusative case due to an implied verb "He made easy" (yassara), which is then explained by the following yassara. The meaning is: Then He made his path easy. This refers to his exit from his mother’s womb, or the path he chooses to follow—between the ways of good and evil—by granting him the capacity and ability to do so, as in His saying: { إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ } (Al-Insan: 3). Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "He clarified for him the path of good and evil."

He made him possessor of a grave in which he is concealed, as an honor to him. He did not leave him cast upon the face of the earth as prey for beasts and birds like other animals. It is said: "He buried the dead" (qabara) if he interred him. "He caused him to be buried" (aqbara) means he commanded that he be buried and enabled it. From this is the saying of the one who said to Al-Hajjaj: "Allow us to bury Salih" (aqbirna Salihan).

He will bring him forth for the second creation. It is also recited as nasharahu.

{ كَلَّا }: A rebuke to man regarding his current state.

{ لَمَّا يَقْضِ }: He has not yet fulfilled, despite the length of time and its extension from the time of Adam until this very moment, { مَا أَمَرَهُ }: what Allah has commanded him, such that he might be free of all His commands. This means that no human has ever been free of shortcoming.