About Surah Al-Balad

Swearing by the sanctity of Makkah, the thirty-fifth revelation confronts the wealthy elite who boasted of their tribal generosity while opposing the Prophet (ﷺ) and neglecting the poor. Also named Sūrat Lā Uqsimu (I Swear) for its initial words, these twenty Makkan verses appeared between Sūrat Qāf and al-Ṭāriq to dismantle the arrogance of men who spent heavily on personal vices yet denied the Resurrection.

The text moves from the holy limits of the City and the Prophet's (ﷺ) suffering there into the universal reality that human existence is forged in struggle. It then pivots to interrogate moral failure, questioning why those granted eyes and a tongue refuse to thank their Creator. True salvation is framed not as empty boasting, but as the effort to scale a steep spiritual path, requiring sincere faith, the freeing of slaves, and the feeding of the distressed.

Those who embrace this ascent become the Companions of the Right. But for those who deny the signs, the path drops away entirely, abandoning the Companions of the Left to face the Fire.

Surah 90 Juz 30 20 verses

Al-Balad

The City Meccan

090

Surah Info Reflections Layers

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

I swear by this city––

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

and you [Prophet] are an inhabitant of this city––

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

[I swear] by parent and offspring,

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

that We have created man for toil and trial.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

Does he think that no one will have power over him?

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

‘I have squandered great wealth,’ he says.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

Does he think no one observes him?

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

Did We not give him eyes,

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

a tongue, lips,

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

and point out to him the two clear ways [of good and evil]?

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

Yet he has not attempted the steep path.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

What will explain to you what the steep path is?

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

It is to free a slave,

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

to feed at a time of hunger

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

an orphaned relative

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or a poor person in distress,

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

Those who do this will be on the right-hand side,

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

but those who disbelieve in Our revelations will be on the left-hand side,

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

and the Fire will close in on them.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

End of Al-Balad

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