Surah Al-Balad (The City)

البلد

20 Verses

In the Name of Almighty Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
20 آية

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Surah Al-Balad is the 90th chapter of the Quran, containing 20 verses. Revealed in Makkah, it takes its name from its opening oath by this City, Makkah, and by parent and offspring, affirming that man was created into a life of toil and hardship. The surah challenges the boastful claim of one who squanders wealth thinking no one observes him, points to the two eyes, tongue and lips as blessings and to the two highways of good and evil shown to him, and describes the steep path: freeing a slave, feeding the orphan and the destitute in a day of hunger, and being among those who believe and enjoin one another to patience and compassion, the Companions of the Right, while those who reject Allah’s signs are the Companions of the Left, bound in a Fire closed in upon them. Below you can read the full Surah Al-Balad in Arabic with a clear English translation and a verse-by-verse tafsir (explanation of the meaning) from Aysar al-Tafaseer, with the option to jump to any specific verse.

Tafsir of the Verses

{ لاَ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ }
(1) – يُقْسِمُ اللهُ تَعَالَى قَسَماً مُؤَكَّداً بِمَكَّةَ (هَذَا البَلَدِ)، التِي شَرَّفَهَا اللهُ تَعَالَى فَجَعَلَهَا حَرَاماً، وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا حَرَماً آمِناً مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْناً.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 1
1. Allah Almighty swears a solemn oath by Makkah (“this city”), which He honoured by making it sacred. In it He placed a secure and sacred shrine, a safe refuge for people.
{ وَأَنتَ حِلٌّ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ }
(2) – وَأَنْتَ مُقِيمٌ فِي هَذَا البَلَدِ الجَلِيلِ القَدْرِ فِي حَالَتَيْ الحِلِّ وَالإِحْرَامِ.

(وَكَأَنَّهُ تَعَالَى جَعَلَ مِنْ أَسْبَابِ شَرَفِ مَكَّةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مُقِيمٌ فِيهَا).
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 2
2. You reside in this majestic sacred city both during the season of the pilgrimage and otherwise. (It is as if Allah Almighty says that one of the reasons for His honouring Makkah is that the holy Prophet (peace be upon him) resided there.)
{ وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ }
(3) – وَيُقْسِمُ تَعَالَى بِكُلِّ وَالدٍ وَكُلِّ مَوْلُودٍ.

(وَفِي القَسَمِ بِهَذَا لَفْتٌ لأَِنْظَارِ البَشَرِ إِلَى مَا فِي التَّوَالُدِ وَالتَّنَاسُلِ مِنْ بَالِغِ الحِكْمَةِ، وَإِتْقَانِ الصُّنْعِ، وَحِفْظِ النَّسْلِ. وَقِيلَ إِنَّ المَقْصُودَ بِوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ هُوَ آدَمُ وَذُرِّيتُهُ).
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 3
3. Allah Almighty swears by every father (begetter) and every child (begotten). In this oath, Allah Almighty draws man’s attention to the great wisdom of procreation, the perfection of creation and the preservation of the human race. It is said that what is meant by father and child are Adam and his progeny.
{ لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلإِنسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ }
{ ٱلإِنسَانَ }

(4) – لَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى حَيَاةَ الإِنْسَانِ سِلْسِلَةً مِنَ المَتَاعِبِ وَالمَصَاعِبِ، يُكَابِدُهَا فِي كُلِّ طَورٍ مِنْ أَطْوَارِ حَيَاتِهِ. فَمُنْذُ أَنْ بَدَأَ نُطْفَةً حَتَّى وُلِدَ وَكَبرَ، وَهُوَ يعَانِي المَتَاعِبَ فِي كَسْبِ عَيْشِهِ، وَتَنْشِئَةِ نَسْلِهِ.

وَيَسْتَمِرُّ هَذَا الكَدُّ وَالتَّعَبُ حَتَّى يُوَافِيَهُ الأَجَلُ.

الكَبَدُ – التَّعَبُ وَالمَشَقَّةُ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 4
4. Allah Almighty made the life of man a series of hardships and difficulties which he experiences at every stage of his life. Thus from the time that he starts his life as a sperm to the time he is born, he suffers hardships in earning a living and bringing up his offspring. This toil and trouble continues thus until death overtakes him.
{ أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ }
(5) – أَيَحْسَبُ هَذَا الإِنْسَانُ المُغْتَرُّ بِقُوَّتِهِ، وَالمَفْتُونُ بِمَالِهِ وَعَقْلِهِ، أَنَّهُ قَدْ يَبْلُغُ مَبْلَغاً لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ؟ فَمَا أَجْهَلَهُ إِنْ ظَنَّ هَذَا. إِنَّ الخَالِقَ الجَبَّارَ الذِي خَلَقَهُ وَأَنْشَأَهُ وَأَعْطَاهُ، قَادِرٌ عَلَى أَنْ يَذْهَبَ بِهِ وَبِمَالِه وَبِقُوَّتِهِ، وَبِمَا أَعْطَاهُ فِي كُلِّ حِينٍ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 5
5. Does this man who is proud of his strength and enraptured by his wealth and his wisdom think that he will reach a stage where no one has power over him? He would be ignorant to think that this is the case. For the mighty Creator Who created him, caused him to grow and granted him favours, is able to take away all the wealth and power He has given him at any moment.
{ يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالاً لُّبَداً }
(6) – وَإِذَا طُلِبَ مِنَ الأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْ بَنِي الإِنْسَانِ، الذِينَ أَعْطَاهُمُ اللهُ المَالَ، أَنْ يُنْفِقُوا مِنْهُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، وَفِي أَوْجُهِ البِرِّ وَالخَيْرِ وَالطَّاعَاتِ، قَالَ الأَغْنِيَاءُ البُخَلاَءُ المُرَاؤُونَ: إِنَّهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ الكَثِيرَ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ فِي وُجُوهِ الخَيْرِ وَالبِرِّ وَالمَكْرُمَاتِ، وَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ البِرَّ وَالمَكْرُمَةَ لاَ تُعَدَّانِ كَذَلِكَ إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَتَا عِنْدَ اللهِ بِرّاً وَمَكْرُمَةً؟ فَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَعْمَالِ البِرِّ عِنْدَ اللهِ تَعَالَى إِنْفَاقُ الأَمْوَالِ فِي مُشَاقَّةِ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَمُحَاوَلَةِ فِتْنَةٍ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ، وَصَدِّ النَّاسِ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللهِ تَعَالَى.

لُبَداً – كَثِيراً.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 6
6. When the wealthy among the sons of man, on whom Allah bestowed riches, are asked to expend in the cause of Allah, and out of charity and obedience to Allah, the miserly wealthy hypocrites say that they do spend much of their money for the sake of good, for charity and for good causes. They do not know that charity and noble deeds are not accepted unless Allah considers them to be so. It is not a kindness in the eyes of Allah to spend one’s money fighting against Him and His Messenger, nor to spend money with the intention of turning the believers away from their faith, and away from the path to Allah.
{ أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ }
(7) – أَيَحْسَبُ هَؤُلاَءِ المُغْتَرُّونَ الذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ الخَيْرِ وَالبِرِّ أَنَّ اللهَ غَيْرُ مُطَّلِعٍ عَلَى أَفْعَالِهِمْ، وَأَنَّهُ لاَ يَعْلَمُ بِمَا دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى هَذَا الإِنْفَاقِ؟ فَاللهُ تَعَالَى عَالِمٌ بِسَرَائِرِهِمْ وَضَمَائِرِهِمْ، وَبِجَهْرِهِمْ وَعَلاَنِيَتِهِمْ، لاَ يَعْزُبُ عَنْ عِلْمِهِ شَيءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ؟.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 7
7. Do those who boast and claim that they are spending their money in the cause of righteousness and virtue think that Allah is unaware of their deeds and that He does not know the motive for their expending? Allah Almighty knows all that they conceal and reveal; nothing can escape His knowledge, neither on earth nor in heaven.
{ أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ عَيْنَيْنِ }
(8) – ثُمَّ ذَكَّرَ اللهُ تَعَالَى الإِنْسَانَ بِمَا أَنْعَمَ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ نِعْمَةَ الإِبْصَارِ التِي يَتَمَتَّعُ بِهَا الإِنْسَانُ هِيَ مِنْ صُنْعِ اللهِ لأَِنَّهُ يُبْصِرُ بِالعَيْنَينِ اللَّتَيْنِ خَلَقَهُمَا اللهُ لَهُ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 8
8. Allah Almighty reminds man of what He has bestowed upon him: He says that He created the blessing of sight that man enjoys. For with those eyes that Allah created man can see.
{ وَلِسَاناً وَشَفَتَيْنِ }
(9) – وَإِذَا تَكَلَّمَ الإِنسَانُ وَأَبَانَ عَمَّا فِي نَفْسِهِ فإِنَّمَا يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ بِمَا وَهَبَهُ اللهُ مِنْ لِسَانٍ وَشَفَتَينِ، وَلَيْسَ فَضْلُ ذلك عَائدٌ إِلى الإِنسانِ وَلا مِنْ صُنْعِهِ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 9
9. And when man speaks and expresses all that he wants, he does this with his tongue and lips that Allah granted him. It is not owing to man that he has these benefits, nor are they of his doing.
{ وَهَدَيْنَاهُ ٱلنَّجْدَينِ }
{ هَدَيْنَاهُ }

(10) – وَقَدْ أَوْدَعَ اللهُ فِي الإِنْسَانِ فِطْرَةَ التَّمْيِيزِ بَيْنَ الخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ، وَجَعَلَ لَهُ عَقْلاً يُرْشِدُهُ إِلَى مَا فِي الخَيرِ مِنْ جَمَالٍ وَحُسْنِ، وَإِلَى مَا فِي الشَّرِّ مِنْ قُبْحٍ وَسُوءٍ.

(وَقَدْ جَعَلَ اللهُ طَرِيقَي الخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ كَأَنَّهُمَا مَكَانَانِ مُرْتَفِعَانِ وَاضِحَانِ يَرَاهُمَا كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ أَيْنَمَا كَانَ).

النَّجْدُ – المَكَانُ المُرْتَفِعُ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 10
10. Allah gave man an innate ability to distinguish between good and evil, and gave him a mind to guide him to the beauty of virtue and show him the ugliness of evil. (Allah Almighty described the two paths of good and evil as two evident and elevated spots which can be seen from all directions.)
{ فَلاَ ٱقتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ }
(11) – فَلاَ جَاهَدَ النَّفْسَ وَالشَّيْطَانَ لِلوُصُولِ إِلَى غَايَتِهِ فِي فِعْلِ الخَيْرَاتِ. وَقَدْ شَبَّهَ اللهُ تَعَالَى هَذَا الجِهَادَ بِاقْتِحَامِ العَقَبَةِ.

العَقَبَةَ – الطَّرِيقَ الوَعْرَةَ فِي الجَبَلِ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 11
11. But he struggles neither against himself nor against Satan to reach his goal of doing good actions. Allah Almighty compares this struggle to crossing a very rough road through the mountains.
{ وَمَآ أَدْرَاكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ }
{ أَدْرَاكَ }

(12) – وَأَيُّ شَيءٍ يُدْرِيكَ مَا اقْتِحَامُ العَقَبَةِ؟ ثُمَّ أَرْشَدَ اللهُ تَعَالَى العِبَادَ إِلَى أَنَّ اقْتِحَامَ العَقَبَةِ يَكُونُ بِالقِيَامِ بِأَفْعَالِ الخَيْرِ، وَمِنْهَا مَا وَرَدَ فِي الآيَاتِ التَّالِيَةِ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 12
12. What will explain to you what the struggle through difficulties is? Allah Almighty then tells His servants that to overcome difficulties, one must do good deeds like the ones mentioned in the next verse.
{ فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ }
(13) – وَأَوَّلُ أَفْعَالِ الخَيْرِ وَأَكْثَرُهَا قُرْباً مِنَ اللهِ، عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ وَتَحْرِيرُها مِنَ الرِّقِّ، وَالإِعَانَةُ عَلَى عِتْقِهَا.

(وَقَدْ وَرَدَ فِي القُرْآنِ الكَرِيمِ وَالأَحَادِيثِ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الآيَاتِ وَالأَحَادِيثِ التِي تُرَغِّبُ فِي إِعْتَاقِ الرِّقَابِ وَتَحُثُّ عَلَيْهِ. وَقَدْ عَدَّ اللهُ تَعَالَى الإِعْتَاقَ أَحَبَّ القُرُبَاتِ إِلَيهِ).

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ – عِتْقُهَا وَإِنْقَاذُهَا مِنَ العُبُودِيَّةِ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 13
13. The first deed of virtue and the one which pleases Allah most is to free a bondman from slavery or to help in freeing him (in the holy Quran and the Hadith there are frequent references to freeing bondmen. Almighty Allah considers this the most cherished deed to him);
{ أَوْ إِطْعَامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ }
{ إِطْعَامٌ }

(14) – أَوْ إِطْعَامُ نَفْسٍ جَائِعَةٍ فِي أَيَّامِ الشِّدَّةِ وَالضِّيقِ.

المَسْغَبَةُ – المَجَاعَةُ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 14
14. or to feed a hungry soul in times of hardship and deprivation;
{ يَتِيماً ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ }
(15) – أَيْ إِطْعَامُ شَخْصٍ يَتِيمٍ مِنَ الأَقَارِبِ، وَفِيهِ جَمْعٌ لحَقَّين هُمَا: حَقُّ اليَتِيمِ، وَحَقُّ القَرَابَةِ.

المَقْرَبَةُ – قَرَابَةُ النَّسَبِ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 15
15. that is, to feed an orphan among one’s relations: in doing so one unites two claims in one, that of the orphan and that of kinship;
{ أَوْ مِسْكِيناً ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ }
(16) – أَوْ إِطْعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَقِيرٍ جِداً، لاَ وَسِيلَةَ إِلَى كَسْبِ العَيْشِ.

وَالمَتْرَبَةً – شِدَّةُ الفَقْرِ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 16
16. or to feed a very destitute person who has no means of earning a living.
{ ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ }
{ آمَنُواْ }

(17) – ثُمَّ اشْتَرَطَ اللهُ تَعَالَى لإِثَابَةِ الإِنْسَانِ عَلَى اقْتِحَامِ العَقَبَةِ بِفِعْلِ الخَيْرَاتِ، التِي دَلَّ اللهُ العِِبَادَ عَلَيْهَا، أَنْ يَجْمَعَ الفَاعِلُ ثَلاَثَ صِفَاتٍ:

– أَنْ يَكُونَ مُؤْمِناً بِاللهِ، وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ، لأَِنَّهُ لاَ يَنْفَعُ مَعَ الكُفْرِ عَمَلُ خَيْرٍ.

– أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ عَلَى الأَذَى وَالمَكَارِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ.

– أَنْ يَكُونَ مِمَّنْ يَرْحَمُونَ عِبَادَ اللهِ، وَيُوَاسُونَهُمْ، وَيُسَاعِدُونَهُمْ عِنْدَ الحَاجَةِ.

تَوَاصَوا – أَوْصَى بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً.

المَرْحَمَةِ – الرَّحْمَةِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 17
17. Allah Almighty then says that in order that a person be rewarded for overcoming all obstacles by doing the good deeds which he mentioned earlier, he should have these characteristics:
a- to have faith in Allah, His Books and messengers. because a non-believer is not credited for his good deeds;
b- to be among those who are patient in adversity and harm which are in the cause of Allah;
c- to be kind to Allah’s servants and help them when they are in need.
{ أُوْلَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ }
{ أُوْلَـٰئِكَ } { أَصْحَابُ }

(18) – وَهَؤُلاَءِ الذِينَ فَكُّوا الرَّقَبَةَ، وَأَطْعَمُوا المِسْكِينَ فِي الجُوعِ وَالشِّدَّةِ، وَكَانُوا مُؤْمِنينَ صَابِرِينَ رُحَمَاءَ.. هُمْ أَصْحَابُ اليَمِينِ الذِينَ يَفُوزُونَ بِحُسْنِ الجَزاءِ عِنْدَ اللهِ تَعَالى، وَيَدخُلُونَ جَنَّتهُ، وَهُمُ الذِين عَنَاهُمُ اللهُ تَعَالَى بِقَوْلِهِ فِي سُورَةِ الوَاقِعَةِ:{ وَأَصْحَابُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَابُ ٱلْيَمِينِ فِي سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ }
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 18
18. Those who freed a bondman and fed an indigent in hardship and were patient merciful believers, are the companions of the right; they earn a good reward from Allah Almighty and are admitted to His Paradise. Allah referred to them in chapter 56- Al-Waqui’a, verse 27: “The companions of the right. What will become of the companions of the right? They will be among thornless jujube-lotus trees, among blooming acacia trees, and ina long-extended shade.”)
{ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَابُ ٱلْمَشْأَمَةِ }
{ بِآيَاتِنَا } { أَصْحَابُ } { ٱلْمَشْأَمَةِ }

(19) – أَمَّا الذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ الذِين يُؤْتَوْنَ كِتَابَ أَعْمَالِهِمْ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ بِشِمَالِهِمْ، وَهُمُ الذِينَ عَنَاهُمْ تَعَالَى بِقَوْلِهِ فِي سُورَةِ الوَاقِعَةِ:{ وَأَصْحَابُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَابُ ٱلشِّمَالِ فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيم ٍ وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ لاَّ بَارِدٍ وَلاَ كَرِيمٍ }
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 19
19. But those who reject the signs of their Lord and His encounter are the people of the left. On Judgement Day they are given their Book of deeds in their left hand. Allah referred to them in chapter 56- Al-Waqui’a, verse 41:“The companions of the left, what will become of the companions of the left ? They will be in the midst of burning winds and boiling water, and in the shade of black smoke, neither cool nor goodly”.
{ عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌ }
(20) – وَيدْخُلُونَ النَّار فَتُوصَدُ أَبْوَابُهَا عَلَيْهِمْ، ويُطْبِقْ عَلَيْهِم العَذابُ فَلا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ مِنْهُ فَكاكاً.

مُؤْصَدَةٌ – مُطْبَقَةٌ مُغْلَقَةُ الأَبْوَابِ.
Surah Al-Balad: Verse 20
20. They will be admitted to the Fire whose doors will be bolted, and torture will close in on them; there will be no escape.
Source: This series of Tafsir books has been made available online by the family of Dr. Assaad Homad (may Allah have mercy on him). These volumes were entirely digitized to provide an accessible and easy format for todays digital age. Please keep Dr. Assaad and his family in your sincere prayers.
تم إتاحة هذه السلسلة من كتب التفسير عبر الإنترنت من قبل عائلة الدكتور أسعد حومد (رحمه الله). لقد قمنا برقمنة هذه المجلدات بالكامل لتوفير تنسيق يسهل الوصول إليه واستخدامه في عصرنا الرقمي الحالي. نرجو منكم ألا تنسوا الدكتور أسعد وعائلته من صالح دعائكم.