SURAH AL-BALAD (THE CITY)
This surah has 20 verses and it was revealed in Mecca. the Holy Prophet (S) has said that whoever recites this surah will be safe from the Wrath of Allah (s.w.t) on the Day of Reckoning. Those who recite this surah in their wajib prayers, will be counted among the pious and will given a high status in the company of the Prophets and martyrs.
Writing this surah as a taweez and tying it around the neck of a child keeps him safe from illness. Water in which this surah has been dissolved, if put in the nostrils, acts as a cure for nose ailments.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
<font color="000000"><b>In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.</b></font>
لَاۤ اُقْسِمُ بِهٰذَا الْبَلَدِۙ(1)
<font color="000000"><b>(1) Nay! I swear by this city.</b></font>
وَاَنْتَ حِلٌّ ۢ بِهٰذَا الْبَلَدِۙ(2)
<font color="000000"><b>(2) And you shall be made free from obligation in this city--</b></font>
وَوَالِدٍ وَّمَا وَلَدَ ۙ(3)
<font color="000000"><b>(3) And the begetter and whom he begot.</b></font>
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ فِىْ كَبَدٍؕ(4)
<font color="000000"><b>(4) Certainly We have created man to be in distress.</b></font>
اَيَحْسَبُ اَنْ لَّنْ يَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ اَحَدٌ ۘ(5)
<font color="000000"><b>(5) Does he think that no one has power over him?</b></font>
يَقُوْلُ اَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا ؕ(6)
<font color="000000"><b>(6) He shall say: I have wasted much wealth.</b></font>
اَيَحْسَبُ اَنْ لَّمْ يَرَهٗۤ اَحَدٌ ؕ(7)
<font color="000000"><b>(7) Does he think that no one sees him?</b></font>
اَلَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَّهٗ عَيْنَيْنِۙ(8)
<font color="000000"><b>(8) Have We not given him two eyes,</b></font>
وَلِسَانًا وَّشَفَتَيْنِۙ(9)
<font color="000000"><b>(9) And a tongue and two lips,</b></font>
وَهَدَيْنٰهُ النَّجْدَيْنِۚ(10)
<font color="000000"><b>(10) And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways?</b></font>
فَلَا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَۖ(11)
<font color="000000"><b>(11) But he would not attempt the uphill road,</b></font>
وَمَاۤ اَدْرٰٮكَ مَا الْعَقَبَةُ ؕ(12)
<font color="000000"><b>(12) And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is?</b></font>
فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ ۙ(13)
<font color="000000"><b>(13) (It is) the setting free of a slave,</b></font>
اَوْ اِطْعٰمٌ فِىْ يَوْمٍ ذِىْ مَسْغَبَةٍ ۙ(14)
<font color="000000"><b>(14) Or the giving of food in a day of hunger</b></font>
يَّتِيْمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ ۙ(15)
<font color="000000"><b>(15) To an orphan, having relationship,</b></font>
اَوْ مِسْكِيْنًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ ؕ(16)
<font color="000000"><b>(16) Or to the poor man lying in the dust.</b></font>
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ ؕ(17)
<font color="000000"><b>(17) Then he is of those who believe and charge one another to show patience, and charge one another to show compassion.</b></font>
اُولٰٓئِكَ اَصْحٰبُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ ؕ(18)
<font color="000000"><b>(18) These are the people of the right hand.</b></font>
وَالَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِاٰيٰتِنَا هُمْ اَصْحٰبُ الْمَشْئَمَةِ ؕ(19)
<font color="000000"><b>(19) And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand.</b></font>
عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌ(20)
<font color="000000"><b>(20) On them is fire closed over.</b></font>
