Al-Balad

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1. 1

   لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

   Laaa uqsimu bihaazal balad

   I swear by this city (Makkah);

2. 2

   وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

   Wa anta hillum bihaazal balad

   And you are free (from sin, and to punish the enemies of Islâm on the Day of the conquest) in this city (Makkah).[1]

   (V.90:2) a) Narrated Ibn ‘Abbâs رضي الله عنهما: On the day of the conquest of Makkah, Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Allâh has made this town a sanctuary. Its thorny bushes should not be cut, its game should not be chased, and its fallen things should not be picked up except by one who would announce them publicly." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.2, Hadith No. 657) b) See the footnote of (V.2:191).

3. 3

   وَوَالِدٍۢ وَمَا وَلَدَ

   Wa waalidinw wa maa walad

   And by the begetter (i.e. Adam عليه السلام) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny).

4. 4

   لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

   Laqad khalaqnal insaana fee kabad

   Verily, We have created man in toil.

5. 5

   أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌۭ

   Ayahsabu al-lai yaqdira 'alaihi ahad

   Does he think that none can overcome him?

6. 6

   يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًۭا لُّبَدًا

   Yaqoolu ahlaktu maalal lubadaa

   He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!"

7. 7

   أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

   Ayahsabu al lam yarahooo ahad

   Does he think that none sees him?

8. 8

   أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

   Alam naj'al lahoo 'aynayn

   Have We not made for him two eyes,

9. 9

   وَلِسَانًۭا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

   Wa lisaananw wa shafatayn

   And a tongue and two lips?

10. 10

    وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

    Wa hadaynaahun najdayn

    And shown him the two ways (good and evil)?

11. 11

    فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

    Falaq tahamal-'aqabah

    But he has not attempted to pass on the path that is steep (i.e. the path which will lead to goodness and success).

12. 12

    وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

    Wa maaa adraaka mal'aqabah

    And what will make you know the path that is steep?

13. 13

    فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

    Fakku raqabah

    (It is) freeing a neck (slave)[2]

    (V.90:13) Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Whoever frees a Muslim slave, Allâh will save all the parts of his body from the (Hell) Fire, as he has freed the body-parts of the slave." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.3, Hadith No.693).

14. 14

    أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌۭ فِى يَوْمٍۢ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍۢ

    Aw it'aamun fee yawmin zee masghabah

    Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine),

15. 15

    يَتِيمًۭا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

    Yateeman zaa maqrabah

    To an orphan near of kin.

16. 16

    أَوْ مِسْكِينًۭا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍۢ

    Aw miskeenan zaa matrabah

    Or to a Miskîn (poor) cleaving to dust (out of misery).

17. 17

    ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

    Summa kaana minal lazeena aamanoo wa tawaasaw bissabri wa tawaasaw bilmarhamah

    Then he became one of those who believed (in the Islamic Monotheism) and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion.

18. 18

    أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

    Ulaaa'ika As-haabul maimanah

    They are those on the Right Hand (i.e. the dwellers of Paradise),

19. 19

    وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

    Wallazeena kafaroo bi aayaatinaa hum as-haabul Mash'amah

    But those who disbelieved in Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell).

20. 20

    عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌۭ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

    Alaihim naarum mu'sadah

    The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet.[3]

    (V.90:20) "Therein breathing out with deep sighs and roaring will be their portion, and therein they will hear not. **" [The Qur’ân, Verse 21:100] **Ibn Mas‘ûd رضي الله عنه recited this Verse and then said: "When those (who are destined to remain in the Hell-fire forever) will be thrown in the Hell-fire, each of them will be put in a separate Tabût (Box) of Fire, so that he will not see anyone punished in the Hell-fire except he himself." Then Ibn Mas‘ûd recited this Verse (V.21:100). [Tafsîr Ibn Kathîr, Tabarî and Qurtubî].