Meaning: The City
Total Ayahs: 20
Place of Revelation: Mecca
Surah Al-Balad swears by the sacred City (Mecca) and the human’s struggle-filled nature. It highlights the moral test between greed and generosity: freeing a slave, helping the orphan or the poor. It contrasts the burdensome way with ease awaited for those who embrace compassion and patience, and warns of a scorching fire for the ignorant.
Life is a test of character—compassion and sacrifice forge true success. Wealth should be used for humanity, not hoarded. True victory is the moral victory over one’s ego.
Recitation nurtures empathy, encourages social justice through practical charity, and supports resilience. It inspires believers to act on high moral values, turn trials into growth, and embed selflessness in daily life.
90:11–16 describe the ‘steep path’ of sacrifice—freeing a slave or feeding the needy.
Choose the harder righteous path—compassion over comfort—and realize your purpose in service and patience.
Al-Muhsin (The Benevolent), Al-Hakim (The Wise), Al-Wadud (The Loving)
Struggle Compassion Charity Patience Moral Test
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