Surah 90

البلد

Al-Balad

The City

Meccan20 Ayahs
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah

Which was revealed in Makkah Swearing by the Sanctity of Makkah and Other Things that Man was created in Hardship Here Allah has sworn by Makkah, the Mother of the Towns, addressing its resident (during the non-sacred months,) free in this.

Classical references: Ibn Kathir (Abridged).

Source: Ibn Kathir (Abridged) (90:1).

Last reviewed: 2026-04-10.

This is a short orientation note and does not replace full tafsir.

90:1
١

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

90:2
٢

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

90:3
٣

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

90:4
٤

We have certainly created man into hardship.

90:5
٥

Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

90:6
٦

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

90:7
٧

Does he think that no one has seen him?

90:8
٨

Have We not made for him two eyes?

90:9
٩

And a tongue and two lips?

90:10
١٠

And have shown him the two ways?1

90:11
١١

But he has not broken through the difficult pass.1

90:12
١٢

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

90:13
١٣

It is the freeing of a slave

90:14
١٤

Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

90:15
١٥

An orphan of near relationship

90:16
١٦

Or a needy person in misery

90:17
١٧

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

90:18
١٨

Those are the companions of the right.1

90:19
١٩

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

90:20
٢٠

Over them will be fire closed in.1