البلد

Surah Al-Balad

Meaning of the name: The City

Makkan Ayat 20

Reading the ayat before and after can make the meaning clearer.

Listen to this Surah Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary · Murattal

Recitation by Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

I do swear by this city [of Makkah] –

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2

وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

and you are free of restriction [for a while] in this city[1] –

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Translation footnote [1]

[1] To punish the enemies of Islam on the Conquest Day.
3

وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

and by every parent[2] and his offspring,

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Translation footnote [2]

[2] i.e., Adam.
4

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

We have created man in hardship.

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5

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ

Does he think that none can ever have power over him?

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6

يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا

He says, “I have squandered enormous wealth!”

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7

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

Does he think that no one sees him?

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8

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

Have We not given him two eyes,

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9

وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

and a tongue and two lips,

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10

وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

and shown him the two ways [of right and wrong]?

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11

فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

Yet he did not make his way through the steep path[3],

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Translation footnote [3]

[3] He did not spend for the sake of Allah but to show off.
12

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

and how do you know what the steep path is?

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13

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

It is freeing a slave,

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14

أَوْ إِطْعَـٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ

or giving food on a day of hunger,

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15

يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

to an orphan relative,

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16

أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ

or to a needy person in misery,

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17

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

then [most importantly] to be one of those who believe and exhort one another to patience and exhort one another to compassion.

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18

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

Such are the people of the Right[4].

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Translation footnote [4]

[4] i.e., those who receive the records of their deeds in the right hand and proceed to Paradise.
19

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

As for those who reject Our signs, they are the people of the Left[5],

English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

Translation footnote [5]

[5] i.e., those who receive the records of their deeds in the left hand and proceed to Hellfire.
20

عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

who will be locked up in the Fire.

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Surah Al-Balad

Arabic with an established translation