☪️ Quran: Chapter 90 The City – Al Balad سورة البلد

Revelation place: Mecca

Revelation order: 35

Number of verses: 20

Theme: The test of life, human struggle, moral responsibility, and the path to salvation.

Subjects: Human Nature · Struggle · Morality · Social Justice · Reward & Punishment

Summary:Surah Al-Balad is a Meccan surah that opens with an oath that emphasizes the weight of human existence and responsibility:

“I swear by this city (Makkah)  and you are free of restriction in this city  and [by] the father and that which was born [of him].” (90:1–3)

The surah begins by swearing by Makkah, the Prophet’s city, and by human lineage, to remind us of the dignity of human life and the sacredness of our moral journey.

Then Allah declares:

“We have certainly created man into hardship.” (90:4)

Life is not meant to be effortless. Human beings are created to struggle, strive, and be tested  in faith, morality, and action.

The arrogant, however, forget their dependence on Allah:

“Does he think that no one has power over him? He says, ‘I have spent abundant wealth.’ Does he think that no one has seen him?” (90:5–7)

This is a rebuke of human arrogance  people act as if their actions are hidden, but Allah sees all.

Allah then reminds humanity of the faculties and opportunities given:

“Have We not made for him two eyes? And a tongue and two lips? And shown him the two ways (of good and evil)?” (90:8–10)

Every person is equipped with tools of perception and guidance, making them accountable for their choices.

Then comes the central metaphor of the surah:

“But he has not attempted the steep path (al-‘aqabah). And what can make you know what is the steep path? It is the freeing of a slave. Or feeding on a day of severe hunger an orphan of near relationship or a needy person in misery.” (90:11–16)

The “steep path” refers to acts of courage, sacrifice, and righteousness  going against selfish desires for the sake of justice and mercy:

• Freeing the oppressed.

• Feeding the hungry.

• Supporting the vulnerable.

“Then he will be of those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion.” (90:17)

Faith is not passive  it is manifested through action and solidarity with others.

The surah closes with the two divergent paths:

“Those are the companions of the right. But they who disbelieved in Our signs those are the companions of the left. Over them will be fire closed in.” (90:18–20)

This mirrors the moral choice every human faces: to walk the “steep path” of faith and compassion or the easy path of heedlessness and arrogance.

Key Embedded Themes:

• Struggle of Life: Hardship is a test, not a punishment.

• Moral Responsibility: Allah equips humans with intellect and guidance.

• The Steep Path: True righteousness requires courage and selflessness.

• Social Justice: Freeing the oppressed and helping the needy are central acts of faith.

• Two Destinies: Eternal success for the righteous, punishment for deniers.

Essence:Al-Balad is a surah of moral challenge and human dignity. It reminds us that the path to Paradise is steep, but it is paved with faith, compassion, and righteous deeds. Life’s struggles are tests of character, and those who strive for good will be among the companions of the right.

I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the condemned.

With the name of Allah, the Gracious the Merciful.

(Acknowledge and declare that Allah is the author of the Quran)

1- I do not sewar by that city (Sewar by Mecca, it is obvious no need to sear by it)

2- And you (Muhammed) are permissible in this city (it permissible for him, on the day he entered Mecca, to implement his will as seen fit)

3- And a by the begetter, and the non-begetter (All who has kids and who dese not)

4- We have created the human (Adams children) into a struggle (In the affairs of this world between truth and falsehood, joy and sorrow, health and sickness, ease and hardship, it is not just a coincidence, it is destined by Allah for a wisdom that He knows, and it is an opportunity to draw closer to Allah test and strengthen one's faith)

5- Does he account that never anyone will overcome him (The arrogant person about his strength, wealth, or ancestry, even though was created weak)

6- He says “I have perished a bundled wealth” (Spent abundance of wealth focusing on his whims and desires, fighting Allah’s message .What a perished waste?)

7- Does he account that no one has as seen him? (Allah sees all)

8- Haven not We made for him tow eyes? (To see Allah’s signs)

9- And a tongue and tow lips (To say what is right and forbid the wrong)

10- And granted him the tow steeps (up roads of good and evil to choose from)

11- So, he has not stormed the steep (Off-road struggle against oneself to choose goodness)

12- And what do realize what is the steep (The right amazing thing to do, that can save you)

13- Unlocking of a neck (Freeing his salve, or help free other from slavery to freedom)

14- Or feeding on a day of on famine (hunger, misery or need)

15- An orphan near of kin

16- Or a needy to the dust (Stuck to the dirt from the intensity of his need)

17- Then that (Aforementioned) was among those who believed (In Allah and his messengers) and willed by patient and willed by mercy(Towards people)

18- Those are the companions of the right (Those who will be taken on the Day of Resurrection to the right and into Paradise)

19- And those who disbelieved in Our signs are the companions of the misery (Left side)

20- Upon them sealed fire

Disclaimer:

The Holy Quran can only be read in its original Arabic language. No translation or interpretation of the Holy Quran can be used as a replacement for the Arabic Holy Quran. I am not a scholar nor do I have any Islamic diplomas. I have tried to provide a Quran translation and contemplations that is faithful to the Quranic Arabic language using an empirical approach that is based on my readings of selected scholars’ interpretations, my personal experiences and understanding of The Holy Quran as a Muslim native Arabic speaker.