How to memorize Surah Al-Balad

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Recited by Mishary Rashid Alafasy

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Surah Al-Balad: Arabic text, transliteration and translation

1. 90:1

   لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

   Laaa uqsimu bihaazal balad

   I do swear by this city ˹of Mecca˺—

2. 90:2

   وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

   Wa anta hillum bihaazal balad

   even though you ˹O Prophet˺ are subject to abuse in this city—

3. 90:3

   وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

   Wa waalidinw wa maa walad

   and by every parent and ˹their˺ child!

4. 90:4

   لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

   Laqad khalaqnal insaana fee kabad

   Indeed, We have created humankind in ˹constant˺ struggle.

5. 90:5

   أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ

   Ayahsabu al-lai yaqdira 'alaihi ahad

   Do they think that no one has power over them

6. 90:6

   يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا

   Yaqoolu ahlaktu maalal lubadaa

   boasting, “I have wasted enormous wealth!”?

7. 90:7

   أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

   Ayahsabu al lam yarahooo ahad

   Do they think that no one sees them?

8. 90:8

   أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

   Alam naj'al lahoo 'aynayn

   Have We not given them two eyes

9. 90:9

   وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

   Wa lisaananw wa shafatayn

   a tongue, and two lips;

10. 90:10

    وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

    Wa hadaynaahun najdayn

    and shown them the two ways ˹of right and wrong˺?

11. 90:11

    فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

    Falaq tahamal-'aqabah

    If only they had attempted the challenging path ˹of goodness instead˺!

12. 90:12

    وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

    Wa maaa adraaka mal'aqabah

    And what will make you realize what ˹attempting˺ the challenging path is?

13. 90:13

    فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

    Fakku raqabah

    It is to free a slave

14. 90:14

    أَوْ إِطْعَـٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ

    Aw it'aamun fee yawmin zee masghabah

    or to give food in times of famine

15. 90:15

    يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

    Yateeman zaa maqrabah

    to an orphaned relative

16. 90:16

    أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ

    Aw miskeenan zaa matrabah

    or to a poor person in distress

17. 90:17

    ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

    Summa kaana minal lazeena aamanoo wa tawaasaw bissabri wa tawaasaw bilmarhamah

    and—above all—to be one of those who have faith and urge each other to perseverance and urge each other to compassion.

18. 90:18

    أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

    Ulaaa'ika As-haabul maimanah

    These are the people of the right.

19. 90:19

    وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

    Wallazeena kafaroo bi aayaatinaa hum as-haabul Mash'amah

    As for those who deny Our signs, they are the people of the left.

20. 90:20

    عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

    Alaihim naarum mu'sadah

    The Fire will be sealed over them.

Sources

• Translation: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran.
• Recitation: Mishary Rashid Alafasy, via mp3quran.net.
• Transliteration is only a reading aid. Learn the exact pronunciation from the recitation or a teacher.