بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
البلد
Al-Balad
The City • 20 Ayahs
Meccanلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ
مجھے اس شہر کی قسم
وَأَنتَ حِلُّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ
کہ اے محبوب! تم اس شہر میں تشریف فرما ہو
وَوَالِدٖ وَمَا وَلَدَ
اور تمہارے باپ ابراہیم کی قسم اور اس کی اولاد کی کہ تم ہو
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِي كَبَدٍ
بیشک ہم نے آدمی کو مشقت میں رہتا پیدا کیا
أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ أَحَدٞ
کیا آدمی یہ سمجھتا ہے کہ ہرگز اس پر کوئی قدرت نہیں پائے گا
يَقُولُ أَهۡلَكۡتُ مَالٗا لُّبَدًا
کہتا ہے میں نے ڈھیروں مال فنا کردیا
أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ
کیا آدمی یہ سمجھتا ہے کہ اسے کسی نے نہ دیکھا
أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ
کیا ہم نے اس کی دو آنکھیں نہ بنائیں
وَلِسَانٗا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ
اور زبان اور دو ہونٹ
وَهَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجۡدَيۡنِ
اور اسے دو ابھری چیزوں کی راہ بتائی
فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ
پھر بے تامل گھاٹی میں نہ کودا
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ
اور تو نے کیا جانا وہ گھاٹی کیا ہے
فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ
کسی بندے کی گردن چھڑانا
أَوۡ إِطۡعَٰمٞ فِي يَوۡمٖ ذِي مَسۡغَبَةٖ
یا بھوک کے دن کھانا دینا
يَتِيمٗا ذَا مَقۡرَبَةٍ
رشتہ دار یتیم کو،
أَوۡ مِسۡكِينٗا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةٖ
یا خاک نشین مسکین کو
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ
پھر ہو ان سے جو ایمان لائے اور انہوں نے آپس میں صبر کی وصیتیں کیں اور آپس میں مہربانی کی وصیتیں کیں
أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ
یہ دہنی طرف والے ہیں
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ
اور جنہوں نے ہماری آیتوں سے کفر کیا وہ بائیں طرف والے
عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَارٞ مُّؤۡصَدَةُۢ
ان پر آگ ہے کہ اس میں ڈال کر اوپر سے بند کردی گئی
About Surah Al-Balad
Surah Al-Balad (البلد) is the 90th chapter of the Holy Quran. It contains 20 verses and is a Meccan Surah.
Read with Urdu translation (Kanz ul Iman) and English translation (Sahih International). Listen to audio recitation by multiple world-renowned reciters including Mishary Alafasy, Sudais, Shuraim, Husary, and more.
About Surah Al-Balad
Al-Balad (The City) is a Meccan surah of 20 verses. It swears by Makkah, says that man was created into hardship, and presents the choice between the two paths and the "steep ascent" of freeing a slave and feeding the hungry.
Number
90th surah
Verses
20
Revelation
Meccan
Meaning
The City
Why read it
It defines real virtue in practical terms (freeing, feeding, patience, compassion) and speaks honestly about the difficulty of life.
Key point
We have certainly created man into hardship (90:4)
Historical Context
A Meccan surah that swears by the city of Makkah and says that the human being was created into hardship, then challenges the person who boasts of wealth he spent and thinks no one sees him. It describes two ways and asks what will make you know the steep ascent, and defines it through freeing slaves, feeding the hungry and being among those who advise one another to patience and compassion.
Main Themes
This city
Verses 1-2 swear by Makkah, with the Prophet ﷺ in it. Commentators differ on the exact reading of the second phrase, as to whether it says the Prophet is a resident of it or that it will be made lawful for him.
Life as struggle
Verse 4 says that man was created into hardship (kabad). Commentators generally understand it as the effort and difficulty that is part of human life.
The boast of wealth
Verses 5-7 describe a person who says that he has spent abundant wealth, and ask whether he thinks that no one saw him.
The steep path
Verses 10-16 say Allah has shown him the two highways, but he has not attempted the steep ascent, which is freeing a neck, feeding on a day of hunger an orphan relative or a needy person in dust.
The people of the right
Verses 17-18 say the people of the right are those who believed and advised each other to patience and compassion.
Important Verses
90:4
Created into hardship
We have certainly created man into hardship.
90:10
The two highways
And have shown him the two ways.
90:12-16
The steep ascent
The verses define the ascent through concrete deeds: freeing a slave and feeding the hungry, especially an orphan relative or one in need.
Hadith & Popular Descriptions
We include authenticity grading for each narration below — not every widely-repeated description of a surah comes from an equally strong source.
Freeing a believing slave
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever frees a believing slave, Allah will free from the Fire every limb of his for every limb of the slave.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. The surah's own reference to freeing a neck is a Quranic virtue, and this hadith is a supporting report.
Frequently Asked Questions about Surah Al-Balad
What is Surah Al-Balad about?
Al-Balad (The City) is a Meccan surah of 20 verses. It swears by Makkah, says that man was created into hardship, and presents the choice between the two paths and the "steep ascent" of freeing a slave and feeding the hungry.
How many verses are in Surah Al-Balad?
Surah Al-Balad contains 20 verses (The City). It is the 90th surah of the Holy Quran.
Is Surah Al-Balad Makki or Madani?
Surah Al-Balad is a Makki surah — it was revealed in Makkah before the Hijrah.
What are the benefits of reading Surah Al-Balad?
It defines real virtue in practical terms (freeing, feeding, patience, compassion) and speaks honestly about the difficulty of life.
Where can I read Surah Al-Balad with Urdu translation?
You can read Surah Al-Balad above with the full Arabic text, Urdu translation (Kanz ul Iman), and English translation (Sahih International), plus audio recitation.
What is "al-aqabah"?
It means a steep path or mountain pass. The surah explains it by naming deeds: freeing a person from slavery, and feeding the orphan relative or the person in need on a day of hunger.
Is freeing a slave relevant today?
Slavery in its historical form has largely ended, but scholars point out that the verse's principle, freeing people from bondage and debt and feeding the hungry, remains meaningful. Many connect it to paying off a debtor's burden and to supporting the vulnerable.