Chapter 90 · 20 verses
Al-Balad
The City
البلد
Reading & audio settings
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
90:1
لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ١
English
I do swear by this city ˹of Mecca˺—
Understand this verse
90:2
وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ٢
English
even though you ˹O Prophet˺ are subject to abuse in this city—
Understand this verse
90:3
وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ٣
English
and by every parent and ˹their˺ child!
Understand this verse
90:4
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ٤
English
Indeed, We have created humankind in ˹constant˺ struggle.
Understand this verse
90:5
أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ٥
English
Do they think that no one has power over them
Understand this verse
90:6
يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا٦
English
boasting, “I have wasted enormous wealth!”?
Understand this verse
90:7
أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ٧
English
Do they think that no one sees them?
Understand this verse
90:8
أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ٨
English
Have We not given them two eyes
Understand this verse
90:9
وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ٩
English
a tongue, and two lips;
Understand this verse
90:10
وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ١٠
English
and shown them the two ways ˹of right and wrong˺?
Understand this verse
90:11
فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ١١
English
If only they had attempted the challenging path ˹of goodness instead˺!
Understand this verse
90:12
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ١٢
English
And what will make you realize what ˹attempting˺ the challenging path is?
Understand this verse
90:13
فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ١٣
English
It is to free a slave
Understand this verse
90:14
أَوْ إِطْعَـٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ١٤
English
or to give food in times of famine
Understand this verse
90:15
يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ١٥
English
to an orphaned relative
Understand this verse
90:16
أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ١٦
English
or to a poor person in distress
Understand this verse
90:17
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ١٧
English
and—above all—to be one of those who have faith and urge each other to perseverance and urge each other to compassion.
Understand this verse
90:18
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ١٨
English
These are the people of the right.
Understand this verse
90:19
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ١٩
English
As for those who deny Our signs, they are the people of the left.
Understand this verse
90:20
عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ٢٠
English
The Fire will be sealed over them.
Understand this verse
Browse in revelation order
About Surah Al-Balad (The City)
Named "the City" (al-Balad), a Meccan sūrah on the struggle of human life and the steep path of freeing the enslaved and feeding the needy.
- Chapter
- 90 of 114
- Revealed in
- Mecca
- Period
- Meccan
- Verses
- 20
Frequently asked questions
What is Surah Al-Balad about?
Named "the City" (al-Balad), a Meccan sūrah on the struggle of human life and the steep path of freeing the enslaved and feeding the needy.
How many verses are in Surah Al-Balad?
Surah Al-Balad (The City) has 20 verses (āyāt).
Is Surah Al-Balad Meccan or Madinan?
Surah Al-Balad is a Meccan (Makkī) sūrah, revealed in Mecca.
What number is Surah Al-Balad in the Qurʾān?
Surah Al-Balad is the 90th chapter (sūrah) of the Holy Qurʾān.