Surah Al-Balad - English Translation by Shabbir Ahmed

لَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ

Nay, I present this very Town as witness
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 1

وَأَنتَ حِلُّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ

The Town where (O Prophet) you have lived
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 2

وَوَالِدٖ وَمَا وَلَدَ

And where your ancestors have multiplied. (A Sanctuary for peace for everyone)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 3

لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِي كَبَدٍ

Verily, We have created the human being for hard work. (This is the Town where Abraham and Ishmael labored, and where you began your toil to raise the Name of your Lord)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 4

أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ أَحَدٞ

Does he think that none has Power over him
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 5

يَقُولُ أَهۡلَكۡتُ مَالٗا لُّبَدًا

He keeps boasting, "I have wasted so much wealth
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 6

أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

What! Does he think that no one sees him? (How much and where he spent it)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 7

أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ

Did We not give him two eyes? ('Ainain' = Two physical eyes = Physical vision and vision of the heart = Sight and insight)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 8

وَلِسَانٗا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ

And a tongue and a pair of lips
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 9

وَهَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجۡدَيۡنِ

And shown him the two highways? (Of virtue and vice)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 10

فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ

But he hardly tries the uphill road, the Ascent
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 11

وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ

Ah, what will convey unto you what that Ascent is
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 12

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

Freeing others from bondage, physical or mental, and from any social, economic or political oppression. (Freeing the neck includes all the above meanings plus striving to establish the Divine System wherein the only Master is Allah's Law)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 13

أَوۡ إِطۡعَٰمٞ فِي يَوۡمٖ ذِي مَسۡغَبَةٖ

And to feed in times of hunger, famine, wars and natural disasters
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 14

يَتِيمٗا ذَا مَقۡرَبَةٍ

And to take special care of those who despite being a part of the community feel left out. ('Za maqrabah' = Near one = Relative = Part of the community)
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 15

أَوۡ مِسۡكِينٗا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةٖ

And helping him who remains needy though he toils in dust
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 16

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ

And to be of those who have chosen to be graced with belief, and become living reminders of perseverance and living reminders of compassion
Surah Al-Balad, Verse 17