البلد
Surah Al-Balad
The City · Surah 90 · Meccan · 20 verses
1لَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ ١Nay, I swear by this city.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the commentators agree this city is Mecca; it is not just any city but “the” city everyone knows.2وَأَنتَ حِلُّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ ٢And thou art an indweller of this city.InsightElmalılı gives several meanings: while the Prophet lives here, or when he returns by conquest. Another: in this safe city, where even hunting is forbidden, your rights are not respected.3وَوَالِدࣲ وَمَا وَلَدَ ٣And the begetter and that which he begat.InsightElmalılı relates several views; according to Mujahid the father is Adam and the child his descendants.4لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِي كَبَدٍ ٤We verily have created man in an atmosphere.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, man did not come into life easily in a moment, nor will he pass through it easily. He is surrounded by hardships that pierce the heart; life is effort and struggle.5أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ أَحَدࣱ ٥Thinketh he that none hath power over him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this does not mean every person, but certain proud and arrogant people with these traits.6يَقُولُ أَهۡلَكۡتُ مَالࣰا لُّبَدًا ٦And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, he says this to boast before the believers, meaning wealth spent for show. It is called “squandering” because it was wasted rather than spent on real benefit.7أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ ٧Thinketh he that none beholdeth him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is a warning: does he think no one saw him as he spent? Allah sees what he spent, how and why.8أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ ٨Did We not assign unto him two eyes.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the eyes were given to look and see what should be seen. So should he not also see Allah, who created the eyes and sees what he does?9وَلِسَانࣰا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ ٩And a tongue and two lips.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the tongue sets man apart from animals and lets him express himself. Even the boastful word he says is said with the tongue Allah gave him.10وَهَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجۡدَيۡنِ ١٠And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways.InsightElmalılı explains “najd” as high, raised ground: man has been shown two high roads, of good and of evil. Which one he climbs is his choice.11فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ ١١But he hath not attempted the Ascent.InsightElmalılı explains “‘aqabah” as a steep climb from a low valley up a high mountain, and “iqtiham” as charging at it bravely. The proud man who trusted his wealth did not attempt it.12وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ ١٢Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this question stresses that attempting it is a great heroism, a hard and lofty task.13فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ ١٣(It is) to free a slave.InsightElmalılı says “raqabah” means neck and is used especially for a captive who has lost his freedom. Freeing it is releasing someone tied by bondage.14أَوۡ إِطۡعَٰمࣱ فِي يَوۡمࣲ ذِي مَسۡغَبَةࣲ ١٤And to feed in the day of hunger.InsightElmalılı explains “masghabah” as hunger amid weariness and hardship, a time of general famine. Feeding others when everyone is in need is a greater sacrifice.15يَتِيمࣰا ذَا مَقۡرَبَةٍ ١٥An orphan near of kin.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the nearness here is first of all kinship, though it may also be the nearness of neighbours. Kinship and faith come first.16أَوۡ مِسۡكِينࣰا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةࣲ ١٦Or some poor wretch in misery.InsightElmalılı explains “matrabah” as being covered in dust, like a saying for one who sleeps on the ground with a stone for a pillow: it expresses dire poverty.17ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ ١٧And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, another way up the steep path, even without means, is to be among the believers who urge one another to patience and compassion.18أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ ١٨Their place will be on the right hand.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are the heroes who free captives, feed orphans and the poor in hard times, or at least urge one another to patience and compassion. Their records will be given in their right hand.19وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ ١٩But those who disbelieve Our revelations, their place will be on the left hand.InsightElmalılı explains “mash’amah” as ill omen: these are the ones whose records are given in their left hand, unlucky for themselves and others.20عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَارࣱ مُّؤۡصَدَةُۢ ٢٠Fire will be an awning over them.InsightElmalılı explains “mu’sadah” as tightly shut and locked. The fire closing over them like an oven conveys the severity of the punishment.