90. Al-Balad

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

I swear by this city

Nay, I present this very Town as witness

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

and you are dwelling in this city

The Town where (O Prophet) you have lived

And [by] the father1 and that which was born [of him],

and by parent and offspring

And where your ancestors have multiplied. (A Sanctuary for peace for everyone)

We have certainly created man into hardship.

that We have created man into a life of toil and trial

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)

Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

Does he think then that no one has power over him

Does he think that none has Power over him

He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance."

He says, "I have spent enormous wealth

He keeps boasting, "I have wasted so much wealth

Does he think that no one has seen him?

Does he then think that no one sees him

What! Does he think that no one sees him? (How much and where he spent it)

Have We not made for him two eyes?

Have We not given him two eyes

Did We not give him two eyes? ('Ainain' = Two physical eyes = Physical vision and vision of the heart = Sight and insight)

And a tongue and two lips?

and a tongue, and a pair of lips

And a tongue and a pair of lips

And have shown him the two ways?1

and shown him the two paths

And shown him the two highways? (Of virtue and vice)

But he has not broken through the difficult pass.1

But he has not attempted the ascent

But he hardly tries the uphill road, the Ascent

And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass?

What will explain to you what the ascent is

Ah, what will convey unto you what that Ascent is

It is the freeing of a slave

It is the freeing of a slave

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)

Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

or the feeding in times of famine

And to feed in times of hunger, famine, wars and natural disasters

An orphan of near relationship

of an orphaned relative

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)

Or a needy person in misery

or some needy person in distress

And helping him who remains needy though he toils in dust

And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion.

and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion

And to be of those who have chosen to be graced with belief, and become living reminders of perseverance and living reminders of compassion

Those are the companions of the right.1

Those who do so are the people of the right hand

Such are the ones hand in hand with Bliss

But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left.1

and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand

And those who deny Our Messages, such are the ones hand in hand with despondence

Over them will be fire closed in.1

and the Fire will close in on them

With Fire all around them