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Read Surah Al-Balad in Arabic and English

سورة البلد

Surah 9020 versesMeccan translation: Saheeh International

The complete Arabic text of Surah Al-Balad: its 20 verses in vowelled Uthmani script, with the English translation under each verse. Enlarge the text with A+, show the transliteration or word by word, and start the recitation: each verse lights up as it is recited.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ ۝١

1. I swear by this city [i.e., Makkah] –

وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ ۝٢

2. And you, [O Muḥammad], are free of restriction in this city –

وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ ۝٣

3. And [by] the father1924 and that which was born [of him],

Notes

[1924] Said to be Adam (upon him be peace) .

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ ۝٤

4. We have certainly created man into hardship.

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ ۝٥

5. Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا ۝٦

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

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ ۝٧

7. Does he think that no one has seen him?

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ ۝٨

8. Have We not made for him two eyes?

وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ ۝٩

9. And a tongue and two lips?

وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ ۝١٠

10. And have shown him the two ways?1925

Notes

[1925] Of good and evil.

فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ ۝١١

11. But he has not broken through the difficult pass.1926

Notes

[1926] i.e., the steep incline or obstacle. In other words, he has not spent in the cause of Allāh but only boasts of spending in front of others.

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ ۝١٢

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

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ ۝١٣

13. It is the freeing of a slave

أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ ۝١٤

14. Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ ۝١٥

15. An orphan of near relationship

أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ ۝١٦

16. Or a needy person in misery

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ ۝١٧

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

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ ۝١٨

18. Those are the companions of the right.1927

Notes

[1927] Or "the companions of good fortune," i.e., those who receive their records in their right hands and proceed to Paradise.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ ۝١٩

19. But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left.1928

Notes

[1928] Or "the companions of ill fortune," i.e., those who receive their records in their left hands and proceed to Hell.

عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ ۝٢٠

20. Over them will be fire closed in.1929

Notes

[1929] The cover over Hell will be sealed and locked, containing its fire and its inhabitants.