Surah Al-Balad (The City)

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

90:1 I do swear by this city ˹of Mecca˺—

وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

90:2 even though you ˹O Prophet˺ are subject to abuse in this city—

وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

90:3 and by every parent and ˹their˺ child!

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

90:4 Indeed, We have created humankind in ˹constant˺ struggle.

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ

90:5 Do they think that no one has power over them,

يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا

90:6 boasting, “I have wasted enormous wealth!”?

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

90:7 Do they think that no one sees them?

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

90:8 Have We not given them two eyes,

وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

90:9 a tongue, and two lips;

وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

90:10 and shown them the two ways ˹of right and wrong˺?

فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

90:11 If only they had attempted the challenging path ˹of goodness instead˺!

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

90:12 And what will make you realize what ˹attempting˺ the challenging path is?

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

90:13 It is to free a slave,

أَوْ إِطْعَـٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ

90:14 or to give food in times of famine

يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

90:15 to an orphaned relative

أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ

90:16 or to a poor person in distress,

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

90:17 and—above all—to be one of those who have faith and urge each other to perseverance and urge each other to compassion.

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

90:18 These are the people of the right.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

90:19 As for those who deny Our signs, they are the people of the left.

عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

90:20 The Fire will be sealed over them.