Surah Al-Balad — Part 1

Ayahs 1–5 with word-by-word meanings. Read the bilingual lesson for Surah Al-Balad — Part 1 and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. سُورَةُ البلد

The surah explains the difficult path of goodness: freeing people, feeding the needy, faith, patience, and mercy. It is a Makki surah with 20 ayahs. بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2. لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ ﴿١﴾

I swear by this city [i.e., Makkah]

3. وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ ﴿٢﴾

And you, [O Muḥammad], are free of restriction in this city

4. وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ ﴿٣﴾

And [by] the father 1 and that which was born [of him],

5. لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ ﴿٤﴾

We have certainly created man into hardship.

6. أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ ﴿٥﴾

Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?