Surah Al-Balad (The City)

Topics in Surah Al-Balad

Study guides that discuss verses of this surah, most connected first.

• Mercy (Rahmah) (8 verses)
• Weakness (Da'f) (8 verses)
• Food (Ta'am) (8 verses)
• Spending (Infaq) (6 verses)
• Expiations (Kaffarat) (6 verses)
• Orphans (Yateem) (6 verses)
• Cosmic Signs (Ayat Kawniyyah) (5 verses)
• Adoption (Tabanni) (5 verses)
• The Tongue (Lisan) (5 verses)
• Man (Insan) (4 verses)
• Rights (Huquq) (4 verses)
• Bequest (Wasiyyah) (4 verses)
• Zakat (2 verses)
• The Eye (Ayn) (2 verses)
• Hellfire (Nar) (2 verses)

Read Surah Al-Balad with English translation

1. 90:1

   بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

   I swear by this city––

2. 90:2

   وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

   and you [Prophet] are an inhabitant of this city––

3. 90:3

   وَوَالِدٍۢ وَمَا وَلَدَ

   [I swear] by parent and offspring,

4. 90:4

   لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

   that We have created man for toil and trial.

5. 90:5

   أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌۭ

   Does he think that no one will have power over him?

6. 90:6

   يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًۭا لُّبَدًا

   ‘I have squandered great wealth,’ he says.

7. 90:7

   أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

   Does he think no one observes him?

8. 90:8

   أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

   Did We not give him eyes,

9. 90:9

   وَلِسَانًۭا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

   a tongue, lips,

10. 90:10

    وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

    and point out to him the two clear ways [of good and evil]?

11. 90:11

    فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

    Yet he has not attempted the steep path.

12. 90:12

    وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

    What will explain to you what the steep path is?

13. 90:13

    فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

    It is to free a slave,

14. 90:14

    أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌۭ فِى يَوْمٍۢ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍۢ

    to feed at a time of hunger

15. 90:15

    يَتِيمًۭا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

    an orphaned relative

16. 90:16

    أَوْ مِسْكِينًۭا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍۢ

    or a poor person in distress,

17. 90:17

    ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

    and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion.

18. 90:18

    أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

    Those who do this will be on the right-hand side,

19. 90:19

    وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

    but those who disbelieve in Our revelations will be on the left-hand side,

20. 90:20

    عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌۭ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

    and the Fire will close in on them.

English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.