Surah Al-Balad – The City

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

Laaa uqsimu bihaazal balad

I do call to witness this City;-

وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

Wa anta hillum bihaazal balad

And thou art a freeman of this City;-

وَوَالِدٍۢ وَمَا وَلَدَ

Wa waalidinw wa maa walad

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

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

Laqad khalaqnal insaana fee kabad

Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌۭ

Ayahsabu al-lai yaqdira 'alaihi ahad

Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?

يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًۭا لُّبَدًا

Yaqoolu ahlaktu maalal lubadaa

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

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

Ayahsabu al lam yarahooo ahad

Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

Alam naj'al lahoo 'aynayn

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

وَلِسَانًۭا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

Wa lisaananw wa shafatayn

And a tongue, and a pair of lips?-

وَهَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

Wa hadaynaahun najdayn

And shown him the two highways?

فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

Falaq tahamal-'aqabah

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

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

Wa maaa adraaka mal'aqabah

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

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

Fakku raqabah

(It is:) freeing the bondman;

أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌۭ فِى يَوْمٍۢ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍۢ

Aw it'aamun fee yawmin zee masghabah

Or the giving of food in a day of privation

يَتِيمًۭا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

Yateeman zaa maqrabah

To the orphan with claims of relationship,

أَوْ مِسْكِينًۭا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍۢ

Aw miskeenan zaa matrabah

Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

Summa kaana minal lazeena aamanoo wa tawaasaw bissabri wa tawaasaw bilmarhamah

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

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

Ulaaa'ika As-haabul maimanah

Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

Wallazeena kafaroo bi aayaatinaa hum as-haabul Mash'amah

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

عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌۭ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

Alaihim naarum mu'sadah

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