Surah Al-Balad - English Translation by Dr Munir Munshey
لَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ
I swear by (the sanctity of) this town (of Makkah)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 1
وَأَنتَ حِلُّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ
(Because) you (oh Muhammad, SAW), are allowed in this town
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 2
وَوَالِدٖ وَمَا وَلَدَ
By the father (the first man, prophet Adam), and (all) the children he begot
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 3
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِي كَبَدٍ
Surely, We have fashioned man to toil (and undergo a trial)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 4
أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ أَحَدٞ
Does man think that nobody has any power over him
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 5
يَقُولُ أَهۡلَكۡتُ مَالٗا لُّبَدًا
(Boastfully) he says, "I have squandered heaps of wealth
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 6
أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ
Does he think nobody watches over him
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 7
أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ
Did We not give him two eyes
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 8
وَلِسَانٗا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ
A tongue, and the lips
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 9
وَهَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجۡدَيۡنِ
And showed him the two (divergent) paths (of good and evil)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 10
فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ
But man does not attempt the harder (uphill course)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 11
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ
And how would you know what the harder course (of action) is
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 12
فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ
(It is) freeing slaves
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 13
أَوۡ إِطۡعَٰمٞ فِي يَوۡمٖ ذِي مَسۡغَبَةٖ
And on a day of hunger, feeding (the hungry)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 14
يَتِيمٗا ذَا مَقۡرَبَةٍ
Orphans among the kinsfolk
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 15
أَوۡ مِسۡكِينٗا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةٖ
And the needy among the destitute
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 16
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ
Furthermore, (the harder course is) to be among those who believe and persevere (in belief), and persevere with kindness and compassion
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 17
أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ
Such are the people of the right side _ (the righteous ones)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 18
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ
While those who disbelieve Our verses (and Our signs) are the people of the left side _ (the rebellious ones)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 19
عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَارٞ مُّؤۡصَدَةُۢ
Fire shall besiege and beset them, all around
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 20