[ al-Asbāb is interpreted in four ways:
1. al-Asbāb is used in the sense of "gates"; as in the following verses:
So let them ascend within the asbāb (that is, the causes of the heavens: the gates of the heavens). (Ṣād 38:10)
Perhaps I may reach the asbāb {that is, the gates}, the asbāb of the heavens {that is, their gates}. (al-Muʾminūn 23:36-37)
2. al-Asbāb is used in the sense of "stations"; as in the following verses:
And all the asbāb between them {that is, the stations in which they gathered together for disobedience to Allah} will be cut off. (al-Baqara 2:166)
Then he followed a sabab (singular of asbāb) {that is, the stations and paths of the earth}. (al-Kahf 18:85)
3. as-Sabab (which is the singular of asbāb) is used in the sense of "knowledge"; as in the following verses:
And We gave him {that is, Dhul-Qarnayn} a sabab for everything {that is, knowledge / science}. Then he followed a sabab {that is, knowledge / science of the stations and paths of the earth}. (al-Kahf 18:84-85)
4. Sabab is used in the sense of "rope/cord"; as in the following verse:
Let him extend a sabab {that is, a rope} to the sky, then cut it off and see: will his plan remove what enrages him? (al-Ḥajj 22:15)