Al-Balad (ٱلْبَلَد)

Surah Al-Balad is situated in the 30 and last Juz of the Holy Quran. It is the 90th chapter and is considered to be the twin surah of Surah Al-Fajr. There are 20 verses in this surah, all contained in a single Ruku. The style and subject matter of this surah are similar to the earlier Meccan surahs, but it was revealed later in the prophethood. Scholars have said that Surah Al-Balad was revealed by Allah when the polytheists of Mecca had openly resolved to oppress, tyrannize, and excessively oppose the Prophet (ﷺ). The Muslims at the time faced a very difficult situation, and Surah Al-Balad came with a rebuking message for the disbelievers. 

It's a Meccan surah with a small number of verses and a strong message that will get through to the people more easily. Of course, the strongest indication of this being a Meccan surah is that its very name, 'The City,' refers to the city of Mecca. Right at the beginning of the Surah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ swears an oath by this city due to its important status. After all, it is the city where the Ka’ba is located, the birthplace of the Prophet (ﷺ), and the resting place of many prophets before him. 

Shaan e Nazool (Historical Background)

Surah Al-Balad is a Makki Surah, which was revealed during the very early stage of the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. By that time, the tyranny and persecution by the disbelieving tribe of Quraysh had started. The leaders of Quraysh used to claim superiority over others based on their tribal strength, social status, and wealth. The Meccan society, mainly influenced by these leaders, believed that they were, in every act, invincible, and that no one could stop them.

In short, it was a society of proud and rude people who did not follow any norms. With that mindset, they were not inclined to accept the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. So much so that although they acknowledged his character, truthfulness, and honesty, they were of the view that if someone had to be chosen as a Prophet, any of the leaders of Quraysh should have been the one.

That was the historical context of sending down Surah Al-Balad, through which some very important aspects of humanity were addressed. The Surah explains the status of humankind in this world. Starting in a unique Quranic style, the Surah cites witnesses of the holy City of Mecca, narrating that this is the city where the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was facing extreme hardship while spreading the Message of Islam.

Continuing with the same pattern, the Surah swears upon the parents and their children (some scholars refer to the Prophet Adam عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). After citing these witnesses, Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Commands that humans are created and sent to this world, not for joy and a luxurious life, but for continuous struggle. It is a phase of their test and trial, which is going to decide their destiny in the eternal life after death (Hereafter).

Then, the misconception of humankind about social status and wealth is rejected, saying that these are not the parameters of superiority and success, and in fact, such people think that they are all in all in this world, without being watched by a superior authority (Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ). The Surah clarifies that they are continuously under watch and will have to face the consequences of what they are doing in this world. Going further, the Surah also narrates that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ has provided two distinct ways of spending life in this world, and that it is the choice of humans which way they would like to follow.

One path leads to righteousness, whereas the other is wrong. But the problem with humans is that they are more inclined towards the wrong path because the right path demands a strictly disciplined lifestyle, based purely on Islamic teachings, including keeping the company of righteous people, freeing slaves, feeding the poor, caring for orphans, and helping those in need. Those who follow the right path will be successful on the Day of Judgment, whereas those who follow the other path will face the Hellfire.  

Makki or Madni Surah

Surah Al-Balad is a Makki Surah, revealed during the early days of the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.

Place in the Quran

Surah Al-Balad is the 90^th Surah of the Quran, and is placed in the 30^th Juzz (Para). It comes after Surah Al-Fajr and before Surah Ash-Shams. It is the 35^th Surah in the order of revelation, and falls at number 88 in the sequence of recitation.

• Number of Verses: Surah Al-Balad has 20 verses.
• Number of Ruku (Sections): Surah Al-Balad is grouped into 1 Ruku (section).

Significance of Surah Al-Balad  

The significance of Surah Al-Balad can be summarized as follows:

• This Surah starts with swearing upon the city of Mecca, which establishes that Mecca is one of the holiest cities in Islamic theology, as among several other reasons, it was the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, where he spent the most difficult time of his Prophethood.
• The Surah explicitly declares that life in this world is not an easy affair; it is a sort of test and trial for humans. Life in this world is full of challenges and struggles. Real success is not the joyful worldly life, but the success that comes through determination in faith.
• The Surah teaches us that feeling proud of worldly wealth, status, and power is the wrong way of spending life. It makes a man arrogant. Islam teaches us to avoid this state of mind.
• The Surah tells us that Islam demands a social responsibility from its followers, which may include, among several others, feeding the poor, helping and caring for orphans, and fulfilling the needs of those who are deprived of the basic necessities of life. This social responsibility is one of the core responsibilities of a true Muslim. The Surah teaches us to fulfill this responsibility with sincerity and compassion.
• The Surah defines two distinct paths of spending life in this world. The easiest path is termed as a wrong path, which leads to Hellfire. The right path is termed the "steep path", which demands sacrifice, moral excellence, and charity. It is also mentioned that people often find it difficult to follow the right path and often choose the wrong path. The Surah reminds us that as true believers, we need to adopt the difficult path, which is the right path leading to eternal success.
• It teaches us the importance of faith and righteousness, which come through patience and mutual encouragement towards compassionate behavior with each other.

Overall, Surah Al-Balad explains the philosophy of life and the role of humankind in this world, which leads us to a guiding principle of living a righteous life in this world, for a successful, eternal life after death.

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Balad (الْبَلَد)

This surah addresses the overarching theme of the human struggle and the implications of the choices humans make every day. Its verses show us how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ has given humans ways to see the truth, judge between good and evil, and follow what is right. Now, it is upon us to strive to remain on the righteous path. Those who do so will be rewarded, while those who choose the way of evil will ultimately be doomed. Other subjects discussed in the surah are:

The Importance of Mecca  

In the first verse of the surah, Allah Azzawajal swears on the city of Mecca. This oath emphasizes the importance of the city to Allah and Islam. Mecca is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, the home of the Ka'ba Tullah, and the place where Allah first revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). These ayahs make evident the historic and religious importance of this holy city.  

Next, the verses of the surah draw attention to the hardships and struggles of the Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in the early days of Islam. This leads to a discussion about the reality of human struggle and the choices we face every day. Allah emphasizes that this dunya is not meant as an easy or restful place. The efforts we put in today will, Insha’Allah, bear fruit in the next life. We must also remember that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ is watching us at all times and that we will have to account for every action performed in this life. 

Criteria For Greatness

The surah reveals the criteria for greatness – if a person wishes to achieve greatness and make their life mean something, they must adhere to these criteria. Allah reiterates that greatness is not achieved by wealth and social status but by one's ability to overcome the hardships of life with dignity, sympathy, kindness, and compassion. Often, people become too involved in this world and think that wealth and worldly achievements are a criterion for greatness. 

A person who proudly displays their wealth and reaches heights of ostentation might feel proud for some time. However, they forget that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ does not care for their wealth and their status. He is more concerned with how this wealth was achieved, the behavior of people when they accumulated wealth and achieved worldly feats, and their treatment of others. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ is also aware of a person's intentions and motives for spending. Thus, one should invest in acts of compassion like helping the needy, helping friends and family in their tough times, and being merciful and compassionate in every aspect of their life to achieve real greatness. 

The Challenges of Goodness

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ then explains how following the righteous path is not easy. There are details about how to follow the straight and true path: giving food during a famine, helping an orphan, helping the poor, encouraging others, and urging others to be compassionate as well. 

The People of The Left

The next verses talk about the people who do not follow the good path. They will go to the Fire without any escape or relief. While there aren't many details about what these people do, we may assume that they do not conduct themselves like the people described above. They do not help the weak, nor do they urge others to do so. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Balad (الْبَلَد)

Surah Al-Balad is an excellent example of how the Holy Quran delivers its messages concisely and with great effect. By reciting and studying it, Muslims get an understanding of how to lead a successful life. The first step is our faith. Reciting Surah Balad reminds us of the importance of retaining our iman and belief in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎. The next step is understanding that we were born to struggle and face hardship, especially if we are on the right path. Everyone has to go through challenges, tests, and trials in their lifetime. We must think of this life as transient and the next life as the permanent reward or punishment. This way, the reciter of Surah Al-Balad gains patience, a sense of gratefulness, and bravery to take on any difficulty without complaint. 

This surah also gives us some moral guidance. It urges us to spend our time doing righteous actions. There are several examples of the deeds that will lead to our ultimate success. We learn that it's essential not just to help the weak ourselves but to call upon our brethren to perform charity, have faith, and practice patience as well. If Muslims follow this route, they will soon have a strong, empathic, and united community. Finally, we get a strong warning at the end of the surah. This is a stark reminder for anyone who disbelieves; plus, it also reminds believers of the consequences in the next life. 

Listen to the Recitation of Surah Al-Balad by Renowned Qaris

The Quran was revealed in Arabic, which is one of the ancient languages of the World. Arabic is an eloquent language and at the same time is somewhat difficult to pronounce, especially for non-Arabic speakers. It is a powerful language, where a single word may lead to various meanings, with just a slight variation in pronunciation. The Quran comprises the words of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ directly revealed to the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.

Hence, it is extremely important to recite every word of the Quran exactly as taught by the Prophet to his companions. In this context, the recitation of the Quran is a critically sensitive matter because wrong pronunciation of a word may entirely change what the Quran intends to convey. Even Arabic-speaking people may sometimes find it difficult to recite the Quran perfectly. The problem gets even worse with non-Arabic-speaking people. The best way to learn the correct recitation of the Quran is to listen to the recitation by an authentic reciter (Qari). Apart from that, sometimes we may also like to listen to the Quran, instead of reading it on our own.  

The MuslimandQuran mobile app facilitates you to listen to the recitation of the Quran. Recitations by many renowned and authentic Qaris are available on our website and mobile application, which you can listen to on your mobile devices or laptops quite easily, whenever you like. You can select a Qari of your preference to listen to and learn the correct recitation of the Quran. You only need to download the MuslimandQuran mobile application to listen to any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Al-Balad.

You can download our mobile app for both Android and iOS by clicking the links given below:

• Mobile Application for iOS
• Mobile Application for Android 

Surah Al-Balad PDF

The MuslimandQuran mobile app provides the facility to read the Quran online. But if you are interested in reading it offline, you can also download any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Al-Balad, as a PDF.

You can download Surah Al-Balad in PDF by following these simple steps:

• Press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
• In the Destination dropdown menu, choose Save as PDF.
• Click Save to download Al-Balad to your device.

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