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90. Al-Balad · The City

Human life is presented as a struggle in which wealth and self-confidence offer no escape from accountability. The demanding ascent is explained through freeing a person from bondage, feeding those in need, faith, patience, and mutual compassion.

Updated 20 October 2026Editorial review edition

Meccan (traditional classification) · 20 verses

Editorial themes: Human struggle · Liberation · Generosity · Compassion

English: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), public-domain translation. Arabic: Tanzil Project, Uthmani 1.1, used verbatim under its text licence. Text provenance & limitations →

A note on Arabic, English and verse numbering

Tanzil’s Arabic source includes the opening basmala with the first verse of surahs other than 9. Pickthall’s numbered translation includes it at 1:1; at other surah openings it is not repeated within the numbered English verse. This display preserves both source conventions. The Arabic is not a collection of all variant readings.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

Nay, I swear by this city -

وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

And thou art an indweller of this city -

وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

And the begetter and that which he begat,

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

We verily have created man in an atmosphere:

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ

Thinketh he that none hath power over him?

يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا

And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth:

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

Did We not assign unto him two eyes

وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

And a tongue and two lips,

وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways?

فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

But he hath not attempted the Ascent -

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! -

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

(It is) to free a slave,

أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ

And to feed in the day of hunger.

يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

An orphan near of kin,

أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ

Or some poor wretch in misery,

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity.

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

Their place will be on the right hand.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

But those who disbelieve Our revelations, their place will be on the left hand.

عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

Fire will be an awning over them.

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