Surah 90. Al-Balad — The City

I do call to witness this City;-

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

And thou art a freeman of this City;-

وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;-

وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ

He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance!

يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا

Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?-

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

And a tongue, and a pair of lips?-

وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

And shown him the two highways?

وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep.

فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?-

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

(It is:) freeing the bondman;

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

Or the giving of food in a day of privation

أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ

To the orphan with claims of relationship,

يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.

أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ

Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion.

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round).

عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ