Soorah Al-Balad (The City)


In the Name of Allaah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
1.  I swear by this city (Makkah);
2.  And you are free (from sin, to punish the enemies of Islaam on the Day of the conquest) in this city (Makkah), [1]
3.  And by the begetter (i.e. Adam alayhis-salaam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny);
4.  Verily, We have created man in toil.
5.  Thinks he that none can overcome him?
6.  He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!"
7.  Thinks he that none sees him?
8.  Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?
9.  And a tongue and a pair of lips?
10.  And shown him the two ways (good and evil)?
11.  But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep.
12.  And what will make you know the path that is steep?
13.  (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) [2]
14.  Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine),
15.  To an orphan near of kin.
16.  Or to a Miskeen (poor) afflicted with misery.
17.  Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion.
18.  They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise),
19.  But those who disbelieved in Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell).
20.  The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. [3]
 

Footnotes
[1] (90):2
  • Narrated Ibn 'Abbaas (radi-Allaahu 'anhu):
    On the day of the conquest of Makkah, Allaah's Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said, "Allaah has made this town a sanctuary. Its thorny bushes should not be cut, its game should not be chased, and its fallen things should not be picked up except by one who would announce it publicly." [Saheeh Bukhaaree, Vol. 2, Hadeeth No. 657]
  • See the footnote of (2):191
 
[2] (90):13 Narrated Aboo Hurairah (radi-Allaahu 'anhu):
The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "Whoever frees a Muslim slave, Allaah will save all the parts of his body from the (Hell) Fire, as he has freed the body-parts of the slave." [Saheeh Bukhaaree, Vol. 3, Hadeeth No. 693]
 
[3] (90):20 "Therein breathing out with deep sighs and roaring will be their portion, and therein they will not hear." [Soorah Al-Anbiyaa', (21):100] **

** Ibn Mas'ood (radi-Allaahu 'anhu) recited this Verse and then said:
"When those (who are destined to remain in the Hell-Fire forever) will be thrown in the Hell-fire, each of them will be put in a separate Taboot (Box) of Fire, so that he will not see anyone punished in the Hell-fire except he himself." Then Ibn Mas'ood recited this Verse (21):100. [Tafseer Ibn Kathir, Tabaree and Qurtubee]
 

Soorah 89 The Noble Qur'aan Soorah 91