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The Holy Quran · 90

Al-Balad (The City)

البلد

20 ayahs · Meccan

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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

1. I swear by this city, Makkah - 2. And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 3. And [by] the father and that which was born [of him], 4. We have certainly created man into hardship. 5. Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 6. He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance." 7. Does he think that no one has seen him? 8. Have We not made for him two eyes? 9. And a tongue and two lips? 10. And have shown him the two ways? 11. But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 12. And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 13. It is the freeing of a slave 14. Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 15. An orphan of near relationship 16. Or a needy person in misery 17. And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 18. Those are the companions of the right. 19. But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left. 20. Over them will be fire closed in.

English meanings are from the Saheeh International translation (via the Tanzil-based alquran.cloud API); the Arabic text is shown for reference. Translation conveys meaning only, not the Quran itself. · Recitation audio comes from verified reciters. AI-generated voice is never used for Quran recitation.

About Surah Al-Balad: place, order and how to read it

Surah Al-Balad (The City) is chapter 90 of the Quran and has 20 verses, making it a short surah. It was revealed in Mecca, before the migration to Medina, and it is number 35 in the chronological order of revelation. It falls in juz 30. It occupies one page of the mushaf, from page 594 to page 594.

Where it sits in the mushaf

It is preceded by Surah Al-Fajr and followed by Surah Ash-Shams. Like every surah except At-Tawbah, it opens with the Basmalah. This surah contains no verse of prostration.

Reading this page

  • The Arabic text is in Uthmani script following the Hafs from Asim transmission, numbered verse by verse.
  • English meanings come from the Saheeh International translation; a translation conveys meaning only and is not the Quran itself.
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This page is for reading and reflection. For meanings, context and reasons of revelation, consult established works of tafsir.

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