Islamic Holy Book Quran · Books · Gifts
Chapter 90·Meccan·20 verses

البَلَدِ

Surah Al-Balad

The City

The struggle of human life and the steep path of goodness.

About Surah Al-Balad

Al-Balad, “The City,” describes the toil of human life and calls the reader to ascend the steep path — freeing slaves, feeding the needy and faith with compassion.

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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

  1. 1 Al-Balad 90:1

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

    Laaa uqsimu bihaazal balad

    I swear by this city, Makkah -

  2. 2 Al-Balad 90:2

    وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

    Wa anta hillum bihaazal balad

    And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city -

  3. 3 Al-Balad 90:3

    وَوَالِدٍۢ وَمَا وَلَدَ

    Wa waalidinw wa maa walad

    And [by] the father and that which was born [of him],

  4. 4 Al-Balad 90:4

    لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

    Laqad khalaqnal insaana fee kabad

    We have certainly created man into hardship.

  5. 5 Al-Balad 90:5

    أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌۭ

    Ayahsabu al-lai yaqdira 'alaihi ahad

    Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

  6. 6 Al-Balad 90:6

    يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًۭا لُّبَدًا

    Yaqoolu ahlaktu maalal lubadaa

    He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance."

  7. 7 Al-Balad 90:7

    أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

    Ayahsabu al lam yarahooo ahad

    Does he think that no one has seen him?

  8. 8 Al-Balad 90:8

    أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

    Alam naj'al lahoo 'aynayn

    Have We not made for him two eyes?

  9. 9 Al-Balad 90:9

    وَلِسَانًۭا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

    Wa lisaananw wa shafatayn

    And a tongue and two lips?

  10. 10 Al-Balad 90:10

    وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

    Wa hadaynaahun najdayn

    And have shown him the two ways?

  11. 11 Al-Balad 90:11

    فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

    Falaq tahamal-'aqabah

    But he has not broken through the difficult pass.

  12. 12 Al-Balad 90:12

    وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

    Wa maaa adraaka mal'aqabah

    And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass?

  13. 13 Al-Balad 90:13

    فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

    Fakku raqabah

    It is the freeing of a slave

  14. 14 Al-Balad 90:14

    أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌۭ فِى يَوْمٍۢ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍۢ

    Aw it'aamun fee yawmin zee masghabah

    Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

  15. 15 Al-Balad 90:15

    يَتِيمًۭا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

    Yateeman zaa maqrabah

    An orphan of near relationship

  16. 16 Al-Balad 90:16

    أَوْ مِسْكِينًۭا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍۢ

    Aw miskeenan zaa matrabah

    Or a needy person in misery

  17. 17 Al-Balad 90:17

    ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

    Summa kaana minal lazeena aamanoo wa tawaasaw bissabri wa tawaasaw bilmarhamah

    And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion.

  18. 18 Al-Balad 90:18

    أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

    Ulaaa'ika As-haabul maimanah

    Those are the companions of the right.

  19. 19 Al-Balad 90:19

    وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

    Wallazeena kafaroo bi aayaatinaa hum as-haabul Mash'amah

    But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left.

  20. 20 Al-Balad 90:20

    عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌۭ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

    Alaihim naarum mu'sadah

    Over them will be fire closed in.

Surah Al-Balad — frequently asked questions

What does Surah Al-Balad mean?

“Al-Balad” translates to “The City.” It is the 90th surah (chapter) of the Holy Quran.

How many verses are in Surah Al-Balad?

Surah Al-Balad has 20 verses (ayahs).

Is Surah Al-Balad Meccan or Medinan?

It is a Makkah (Meccan) surah — revealed before the Prophet’s ﷺ migration (Hijrah) to Madinah.

Can I read Surah Al-Balad in English online?

Yes. You can read Surah Al-Balad free on this page in Arabic with a clear English translation and transliteration, so you can both understand the meaning and learn to recite it.

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