About Surah Al-Balad
In this Surah a vast subject has been compressed into a few brief sentences, and it is a miracle of the Quran that a complete ideology of life which could hardly be explained in a thick volume has been abridged most effectively in brief sentences of this short Surah. If this theme is read with verse 39 of Surah An-Najm ( Laisa lil insani illa ma saa : there is nothing for man but what he has striven for), it becom...
Main Theme: Surah Al-Balad focuses on In this Surah a vast subject has been compressed into a few brief sentences, and it is a miracle of the Quran that a complete ideology of life which could hardly be explained in a thick volume has been...
Revelation Context: Revealed in Makkah. Traditionally listed as revelation number 35. Contains 20 verses. Its subject matter and style resemble those of the earliest Surahs revealed at Makkah, but it contains a pointer which indicates that it was sent down in the period when the disbelievers of Makkah had resolved to oppose the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace), and...
Benefits & Significance
In a reader's life, Surah Al-Balad is important because it builds awareness of the Hereafter and patience during trials, then turns both into everyday choices grounded in worship, character, and responsibility.
- Keeps the reader aware of the Hereafter, which improves honesty and responsibility in daily actions. Regular reflection on Surah Al-Balad helps apply this in daily life.
- Builds emotional resilience by framing hardship as a test that can elevate faith and character. Surah Al-Balad links this directly to faith-driven action.
- Motivates self-correction so spiritual growth continues even after failure. Surah Al-Balad repeatedly reinforces this lesson.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ 1
I swear by this city, Makkah -
وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ 2
And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city -
وَوَالِدٍۢ وَمَا وَلَدَ 3
And [by] the father and that which was born [of him],
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ 4
We have certainly created man into hardship.
أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌۭ 5
Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?
يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًۭا لُّبَدًا 6
He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance."
أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ 7
Does he think that no one has seen him?
أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ 8
Have We not made for him two eyes?
وَلِسَانًۭا وَشَفَتَيْنِ 9
And a tongue and two lips?
وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ 10
And have shown him the two ways?
فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ 11
But he has not broken through the difficult pass.
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ 12
And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass?
فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ 13
It is the freeing of a slave
أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌۭ فِى يَوْمٍۢ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍۢ 14
Or feeding on a day of severe hunger
يَتِيمًۭا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ 15
An orphan of near relationship
أَوْ مِسْكِينًۭا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍۢ 16
Or a needy person in misery
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ 17
And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion.
أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ 18
Those are the companions of the right.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ 19
But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left.
عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌۭ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ 20
Over them will be fire closed in.