By Eman Abdallah Kamel
Eman is a writer and engineer. She also studied at the Zad Scientific Academy, an online academy (Shariah).
In this article, you will learn an explanation of Surah Al-Balad and its benefits.
The Holy Kaaba is in Makkah. Image source: britannica.com
Al-Balad (The City)
At the beginning of the verses, God Almighty swears by Mecca because of its great status. Mecca is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). God Almighty also conquered and opened it at the hands of His Prophet for Islam, making it a city of monotheism and faith.
The verses then show the importance of spending money on charitable works, such as helping the underprivileged, the poor, and orphans. Because spending money on good things saves or alleviates the hardship of the afterlife, with sincerity of faith in God, patience in obeying Him, and encouragement of mercy toward creation. Those described with these qualities are the ones who will be given their Book of Deeds on the Day of Resurrection in their right hand, and they will be the people of Paradise.
As for those who disbelieved and denied the signs of God, they are the ones who will take their Book of Deeds with their left hand on the Day of Resurrection, and they will be the people of Hell.
Surah Al-Balad (The City) is Meccan; Surah number: 90; Number of verses: 20; Number of words: 82.
Explanation (Tafsir)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
{1} I swear by this city—
Because Mecca is the most honorable and magnificent place on earth, God Almighty swore by it.
God Almighty swears by what He wants from His creation. For us, we have no right to swear by any creature. Because swearing by anything or anyone other than Allah Almighty is forbidden, and it is polytheism and disbelief.
The Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings upon him) said:
He who swears by other than Allah has disbelieved or associated partners with Allah.
It is narrated by Abdullah ibn ‘Umar [Sahih/Authentic] [At-Tirmidhi]
You can visit hadeethenc.com/hadith/3359 to learn more about the above hadith.
{2} And you, [O Prophet], are free of restriction in this city—
There are two meanings of this verse:
- Allah Almighty swore by Mecca because the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) was residing there. The stay of the Prophet in Mecca increases its honor.
- This is a promise from God Almighty to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to conquer Mecca at his hands so that it becomes a city of faith and monotheism after it had been a city of disbelief and polytheism.
The Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the day of the conquest of Mecca :
Verily, Allah has made this city sacred since the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Therefore, it is a sanctuary by the decree of Allah until the Day of Judgment. Fighting in it was not lawful for anyone before me, and it was made lawful for me for only an hour of a day. And it is sacred by Allah’s sanctity until the Day of Judgment.
It was narrated by Abdullāh ibn Abbās, [Sahih/Authentic] [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
To learn more about the above hadith, visit hadeethenc.com/hadith/4494.
{3} And by every parent and that which was born [of him]!
The meaning of the verse is every parent and that which he begot. Man, animals, and everything. Because the parent and the newborn are both signs of God Almighty.
Allah Almighty says:
Does man not see that We have created him from a sperm drop, and then at once he is a clear adversary [he openly challenges Us]?
Surah Ya-Sin 36:77
{4} Indeed, We have created man in (Kabad) hardship.
In Arabic, the word (Kabad) means hardship, and it is also used to refer to uprightness.
So, there are two meanings of this verse:
- Man suffers from adversity in this worldly life and from the pursuit of a livelihood. A person also suffers with himself by not following his desires. And patience in obeying God.
- God Almighty created man with the best and most upright character, yet he did not thank God for this great blessing.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen said that it is correct for the verse to include both meanings: Allah Almighty created man in the best of stature and with suffering in the face of hardships.
{5} Does he think that no one has power over him?
Meaning: Does he think that no one overcome him, so he is arrogant and proud of the money he spends on his desires?
This is for the unbeliever. As for the believer, he knows that God is capable of everything, so he fears Allah Almighty.
{6} boasting, “I have wasted wealth in abundance!”?
Meaning: Spending a lot of money in a way that displeases God Almighty.
When a person spends his money on sins and desires, he is wasting his money on things that do not benefit him but rather bring harm and destruction to him.
{7} Does he think that no one sees him?
Meaning: Does this person think that no one will see him squandering money and spending it on things that are not beneficial?! Indeed, God has seen him and will hold him accountable for all the good and evil he has done.
{8} Have We not given him two eyes?
{9} And a tongue and two lips?
God created man with eyes, a tongue, and lips for beauty, sight, speech, and other necessary benefits, and they are among the great blessings that Allah Almighty has given man.
{10} And shown him the two ways? Meaning: good and evil; truth and falsehood; guidance and misguidance.
Allah Almighty says:
2. Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture to test him, so We made him hear and see.
3. We indeed showed him the way, whether he ‘chooses to’ be grateful or ungrateful.
Al-Insan (The Man) 76:2,3
{11} If only he had attempted the challenging path ‘of goodness instead’!
Meaning: Will he not overcome his sins and the hardships of the afterlife by spending his money in obedience to God? So he would be safe.
Then Allah Almighty explains this path by saying,
{12} And what will make you know what is ‘attempting’ the challenging path?
{13} It is to free a slave,… Meaning: The liberation of slaves, including those who were held captive.
The Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings upon him) said:
He who emancipates a Muslim slave, Allah will set free from Hell every part of his body in return for every part of the slave’s body, even his private parts.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
{14} Or to give food on a day of severe hunger,
{15} An orphan relative,… Meaning: You give food to an orphan of a near relationship. The Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) said:
Giving charity to a poor person is one charity, but giving to a relative is two things: charity and upholding ties.
[Sahih] – [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah]
To learn more about the hadith above, you can visit islamqa.info… giving zakah to relatives.
{16} Or to a poor person in misery,
{17} And then being among those who believed and advised each other to perseverance and advised each other to compassion.
Meaning: Along with his doing the mentioned good deeds, he was one of those who had sincere faith in God. The Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) said about the faith:
Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in the divine decree, its good and its bad.
It is narrated by Omar bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) (Sahih Muslim)
To learn more about this hadith, visit hadeethenc.com/hadith/4563.
And also among those who advised each other to be patient. Patience is of three types:
- Patience in obeying God.
- Patience in avoiding disobedience to God.
- Patience in the painful destinies of God.
As well as those who encourage each other to have compassion for creatures. The prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Be merciful to those on earth, and the One in heaven will be merciful to you.
Narrated by Abdallah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) (Sahih/Authentic, At-Tirmidhi)
You can learn more about this hadith by visiting hadeethenc.com/hadith/8289.
{18} These are the companions of the right.
Meaning: Those described with these qualities are the people of the right, who will receive their records in their right hands on the Day of Resurrection.
7. As for the one who is given his record in his right hand,
8. He will have an easy reckoning,
9. And return to his people joyfully.
Surah Al-Inshiqaq (The Sundering) 84:7,8,9
{19} As for those who disbelieved in Our signs, they are the people of the left.
Meaning: Those who deny the signs of Allah Almighty are the people of the left.
{20} The fire will be sealed over them.
Meaning: The fire will be closed over them, and they have no way to escape from it and no way out.
Benefits
1. The eyes, tongue, and lips are among the greatest blessings of Allah Almighty to man.
The eyes are for sight, the tongue is for speech, and the lips are for controlling speech, and they also have other benefits.
A person should thank God for these blessings. The eye does not look at what God has forbidden. The tongue only speaks the truth.
2. One of the best good deeds is freeing slaves, including captives.
3. The verses urge us to spend money doing good deeds. An example of this is giving food in times of famine.
4. One of the good deeds that the verses urge us to do is helping a relative orphan. The Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“I and the one who takes care of an orphan will be in Paradise like these two, and raised his index and middle fingers together” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 6005).
5. Money in charitable works brings us closer to Allah Almighty. An example of a good deed is helping needy people. The Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Seven people whom Allah will shade with His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His shade: (1) a just ruler; (2) a young man who has grown up in the worship of Allah; (3) a man whose heart is attached to the mosque (who offers the five obligatory prayers in the mosque); (4) two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and meet and part in Allah’s cause only; (5) a man who refuses the call of a woman of rank and beauty for illegal sexual intercourse with her and says: I fear Allah; (6) a person who gives in charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given. (7) a person who remembers Allah when he is alone, and his eyes get flooded with tears.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 620; Muslim, no. 1712) To learn more about this hadith, visit islamqa.info/en/answers/924/those whom Allah will shade with his shade.
6. The verses urge us to be patient and encourage each other to be patient.
7. The verses also call on us to treat all of creation with mercy.
Sources
©Eman Abdallah Kamel, 2024
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