90. Al-Balad/The City

I/We begin by the Blessed Name of Allah

The Immensely Merciful to all, The Infinitely Compassionate to everyone.

90:01
a. I swear by this City,

90:02
a. and you – O The Prophet - are a resident of this City,

90:03
a. as well as any parent and anyone born of him.

90:04
a. Indeed, WE created human being in stages of difficulty and hardship.

90:05
a. Now that he is in the midst of blessings,
b. does he think that no one will have power over him to hold him accountable?

90:06
a. For he boasts:
b. ‘I have squandered a great deal of wealth!’

90:07
a. Does he think that no one ever watches him with regard to what he has expended?
b. Indeed, Allah watches him all the time!

90:08
a. Have WE not given two eyes to him,
b. to see and recognize the truth?

90:09
a. And a tongue, and a pair of lips,
b. to speak and advocate the truth?

90:10
a. And have WE not showed him the two ways:
b. virtue and vice; good and evil?

Surah 90 * Al-Balad 737

90:11
a. Yet he makes no attempt to the steep/uphill way, i.e., good, virtue.

90:12
a. And what will enable you to comprehend the steep/uphill way?

90:13
a. The setting free of the neck from the burden of bondage or debt,

90:14
a. or, giving food at the time of one’s hunger/impoverishment,

90:15
a. - to some orphaned relative, or

90:16
a. to some needy lying in the misery of dust.

90:17
a. And to be of those who truly and firmly
- believe, and
- motivate one another to perseverance, and
- exhort piety and compassion to one another.

90:18
a. They will be the People of the Right hand side.

90:19
a. As for those who deny and belie OUR Messages in The Qur’an,
b. they will be the People of the Left hand side.

90:20
a. And the Fire will be closing over them from all sides with no exits.