I swear by this city––
Surah 90 · 20 Ayahs
Al-Balad
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
- لَا أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ١
- وَأَنْتَ حِلٌّ بِهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ٢
and you [Prophet] are an inhabitant of this city––
- وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ٣
[I swear] by parent and offspring
- لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ٤
that We have created man for toil and trial
- أَيَحْسَبُ أَنْ لَنْ يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ٥
Does he think that no one will have power over him
- يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُبَدًا٦
‘I have squandered great wealth,’ he says
- أَيَحْسَبُ أَنْ لَمْ يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ٧
Does he think no one observes him
- أَلَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُ عَيْنَيْنِ٨
Did We not give him eyes
- وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ٩
a tongue, lips
- وَهَدَيْنَاهُ النَّجْدَيْنِ١٠
and point out to him the two clear ways [of good and evil]
- فَلَا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ١١
Yet he has not attempted the steep path
- وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْعَقَبَةُ١٢
What will explain to you what the steep path is
- فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ١٣
It is to free a slave
- أَوْ إِطْعَامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ١٤
to feed at a time of hunger
- يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ١٥
an orphaned relative
- أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ١٦
or a poor person in distress
- ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ١٧
and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion
- أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ١٨
Those who do this will be on the right-hand side
- وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ١٩
but those who disbelieve in Our revelations will be on the left-hand side
- عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُؤْصَدَةٌ٢٠
and the Fire will close in on them