Sūra 90: Balad, or the City

Section 1 (1-20)

1. La oqsimu bihatha albaladi

1. I do call to witness this City;-

2. Waanta hillun bihatha albaladi

2. And thou art a freeman of this City;-

3. Wawalidin wama walada

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

4. Laqad khalaqna al-insana fee kabadin

4. Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

5. Ayahsabu an lan yaqdira AAalayhi ahadun

5. Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?

6. Yaqoolu ahlaktu malan lubadan

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

7. Ayahsabu an lam yarahu ahadun

7. Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

8. Alam najAAal lahu AAaynayni

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

9. Walisanan washafatayni

9. And a tongue, and a pair of lips?-

10. Wahadaynahu alnnajdayni

10. And shown him the two highways?

11. Fala iqtahama alAAaqabata

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

12. Wama adraka ma alAAaqabatu

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

13. Fakku raqabatin

13. (It is:) freeing the bondman;

14. Aw itAAamun fee yawmin thee masghabatin

14. Or the giving of food in a day of privation

15. Yateeman tha maqrabatin

15. To the orphan with claims of relationship,

16. Aw miskeenan tha matrabatin

16. Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.

17. Thumma kana mina allatheena amanoo watawasaw bialssabri watawasaw bialmarhamati

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

18. Ola-ika as-habu almaymanati

18. Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.

19. Waallatheena kafaroo bi-ayatina hum as-habu almash-amati

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

20. AAalayhim narun mu/sadatun

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