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     "O Mankind! There has come to you from your Guardian-Lord and exhortation, a prescription
for the minds, a guidance and beneficence for those who believe" [10:57].
 

 
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Sura 90 - Al-Balad

 بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

With the Glorious Name of Allah, the Most Gracious [Who has bestowed upon mankind His Guidance [10:57-58, 17:82], the Most Beneficent [Who showers His special blessings upon those who rehearse it and abide by it [7:204, 6:155].

لا أُقْسِمُ بِهَذَا الْبَلَدِ

90:1 Nay! [It is not as you think], I present [to you] this Town as witness

 وَأَنْتَ حِلٌّ بِهَذَا الْبَلَدِ

90:2 The very Town wherein you live

 وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

90:3 [And I present to you as witness] A parent as well as a child

 لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإنْسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ

90:4 [That] We have, indeed, created man in the midst of trial and tribulation [to face hardship and obstacles, and struggle hard in order to achieve marvelous goals]

 أَيَحْسَبُ أَنْ لَنْ يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ

90:5 Does he think that none has power against him [to straighten his means of subsistence]?

 يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالا لُبَدًا

90:6 [As] he says [boastfully], “I have squandered wealth in abundance[1]

 أَيَحْسَبُ أَنْ لَمْ يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ

90:7 Does he think that [he has been left unattended and] none has been keeping an eye on him?

 أَلَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُ عَيْنَيْنِ

90:8 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes [to enable him to distinguish right from wrong]?

 وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

90:9 And a tongue, and a pair of lips [so that he can ask if he cannot see for himself]?

 وَهَدَيْنَاهُ النَّجْدَيْنِ

90:10 And [have we not] shown him the two conspicuous ways? [one easy downhill way of descent and downfall; and the other, hard uphill way of ascent and elevation]

فَلا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ

90:11 But he would not come quickly to climb the Ascent [, a way that is although hard but every step of it will elevate him further up] 

 وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْعَقَبَةُ

90:12 And what will make you comprehend what the Ascent is? [Who else can tell you better than the Almighty Allah? So listen:]

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

90:13 [The Ascent is] freeing human neck caught in any kind of subjugation or bondage. [That is to say, establishing a system where no one is subdued by or subjugated to another. Everyone walks with his chin up, with total physical and mental freedom. None has to follow and obey any law except that of the Almighty Allah.]

 أَوْ إِطْعَامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ

90:14 Or [the Ascent is] supplying means of subsistence in time of hunger or famine [in spite of one’s own need of these supplies in such circumstances]

  يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

90:15 To the one who, despite living among other people, feels lonely and helpless

 أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ

90:16 Or to the one who is not able to get along and make any progress, and is cleaving to the dust in abject poverty

 ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ

90:17 And then [the Ascent is] being one of those who have attained conviction [in the Divine Laws], and who enjoin upon one another to patiently persevere in adversity, and enjoin upon one another deeds of kindness and compassion [such as to share with others the means of nourishment bestowed on them by the Almighty Allah].

 أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ

90:18 They are the auspicious and fortunate ones [on the right path]

 وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ

90:19 And those who reject our Revelations are the unfortunate [, wretched] ones

 عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُؤْصَدَةٌ

90:20 Upon them shall be fire closed over [, the fire kindled by Allah's Law of Requital, the flames of which shall engulf their hearts {104:6-7}]


 

[1] Lubad(an) = wealth so abundant that one fears not its coming to an end [Lane’s Lexicon]

 

25/02/2006

Important

And do not follow (blindly) any information of which you have no (direct) knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception, you must verify it for yourself. (In the Court of your Lord,) you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning."[17:36]