Surah Al- Balad Meanings

(1) لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

I do swear by this city ˹of Mecca

(2) وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

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

(3) وَوَالِدٍۢ وَمَا وَلَدَ

and by every parent and ˹their˺ child!

(4) لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

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

(5) أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌۭ

Do they think that no one has power over them,

(6) يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًۭا لُّبَدًا

boasting, “I have wasted enormous wealth!”?

(7) أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

Do they think that no one sees them?

(8) أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

Have We not given them two eyes,

(9) وَلِسَانًۭا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

a tongue, and two lips;

(10) وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

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

(11) فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

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

(12) وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

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

(13) فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

It is to free a slave,

(14) أَوْ إِطْعَـٰمٌۭ فِى يَوْمٍۢ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍۢ

or to give food in times of famine

(15) يَتِيمًۭا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

to an orphaned relative

(16) أَوْ مِسْكِينًۭا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍۢ

or to a poor person in distress,

(17) ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

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

(18) أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

These are the people of the right.

(19) وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

as for those who deny Our signs, they are the people of the left.

(20) عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌۭ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

The Fire will be sealed over them.

أُقْسِمُ

I call to witness

ٱلْبَلَدِ

territory, city

كَبَدٍ

hardship, toil

أَيَحْسَبُ

does he think

يَرَهُۥٓ

sees him

وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ

and pointed out to him

ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

the uphill road

رَقَبَةٍ

a slave, a neck

يَتِيمًۭا

an orphan

ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

the right hand

ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

the left hand

نَارٌۭ

fire