Surah 90. Al-Balad

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Verses [Section]: 1-20[1]

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Quran Text of Verse 1-2090. Al-Baladبِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِلَاۤNay!اُقْسِمُI swearبِهٰذَاby thisالْبَلَدِۙcity وَ اَنْتَAnd youحِلٌّۢ(are) free (to dwell)بِهٰذَاin thisالْبَلَدِۙcity وَ وَالِدٍAnd the begetterوَّ مَاand whatوَلَدَۙhe begot لَقَدْCertainlyخَلَقْنَاWe have createdالْاِنْسَانَmanفِیْ(to be) inكَبَدٍؕhardship اَیَحْسَبُDoes he thinkاَنْthatلَّنْnotیَّقْدِرَhas powerعَلَیْهِover himاَحَدٌۘanyone یَقُوْلُHe will sayاَهْلَكْتُI have squanderedمَالًاwealthلُّبَدًاؕabundant اَیَحْسَبُDoes he thinkاَنْthatلَّمْnotیَرَهٗۤsees himاَحَدٌؕanyone اَلَمْHave notنَجْعَلْWe madeلَّهٗfor himعَیْنَیْنِۙtwo eyes وَ لِسَانًاAnd a tongueوَّ شَفَتَیْنِۙand two lips وَ هَدَیْنٰهُAnd shown himالنَّجْدَیْنِۚthe two ways فَلَاBut notاقْتَحَمَhe has attemptedالْعَقَبَةَؗۖthe steep path وَ مَاۤAnd whatاَدْرٰىكَcan make you knowمَاwhatالْعَقَبَةُؕthe steep path is فَكُّ(It is) freeingرَقَبَةٍۙa neck اَوْOrاِطْعٰمٌfeedingفِیْinیَوْمٍa dayذِیْofمَسْغَبَةٍۙsevere hunger یَّتِیْمًاAn orphanذَاofمَقْرَبَةٍۙnear relationship اَوْOrمِسْكِیْنًاa needy personذَاinمَتْرَبَةٍؕmisery ثُمَّThenكَانَhe isمِنَofالَّذِیْنَthose whoاٰمَنُوْاbelieveوَ تَوَاصَوْاand enjoin each otherبِالصَّبْرِto patienceوَ تَوَاصَوْاand enjoin each otherبِالْمَرْحَمَةِؕto compassion اُولٰٓىِٕكَThoseاَصْحٰبُ(are the) companionsالْمَیْمَنَةِؕ(of) the right hand وَ الَّذِیْنَBut those whoكَفَرُوْاdisbelieveبِاٰیٰتِنَاin Our Versesهُمْtheyاَصْحٰبُ(are the) companionsالْمَشْـَٔمَةِؕ(of) the left hand عَلَیْهِمْOver themنَارٌ(will be the) Fireمُّؤْصَدَةٌ۠closed in

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Surah Introduction

The underlying theme of this Meccan sûrah is that human beings are equipped with the necessary faculties to choose between right and wrong. The good-doers are promised Paradise and the evildoers are promised Hell. This theme is emphasized in the next sûrah.

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Translation of Verse 1-201. In the Name of Allah-the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

1. I do swear by this city ˹of Mecca˺-

2. even though you ˹O Prophet˺ are subject to abuse in this city-

3. and by every parent and ˹their˺ child!

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

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

6. boasting, "I have wasted enormous wealth!"?

7. Do they think that no one sees them?

8. Have We not given them two eyes,

9. a tongue, and two lips;

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

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

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

13. It is to free a slave,

14. or to give food in times of famine

15. to an orphaned relative

16. or to a poor person in distress,

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

18. These are the people of the right.

19. As for those who deny Our signs, they are the people of the left. ¹³¹¹

20. The Fire will be sealed over them.

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Commentary

1311. Other sûrahs describing the people of the right and the people of the left include 56 and 69.