Surah 90 - AL-BALAD #

SURAH - 90 سورة البلد

Al-Balad- The Languid / Lethargic / wanting in intelligence

Brief :

This surah is not about any city or town but about that unfortunate person who possesses 'languid attitude' or wanting in intelligence or lack vigour or is inert/lazy. The word balad بَلَدًا and its derivatives have occurred in Quran 19 times and its most popular and modern meaning is city or land. One of the meaning of balad according to Hans Wehr and Edward William is idiot, stupid, languid, wanting in intelligence. The theme of the Quran is not about some city, planets, stars or fruits but it talks about how different thoughts affect the human nature or mind.   

The respected author of the Quran presents the role of the Rabb by personifying it as a person, a common Quranic style, address in theophany format. Note the book Quran is called Qaul e Rasul [69:40 & 81:19] and we have to understand the entire Quran within this context only. The Book Quran is written in a theophany format where inherent Rasul is the speaker and the main protagonist. The verse says "I have nothing to do with lazy type of minds but the behaviour can be resolved if one understands that that life is meant for struggling and helping others. Everyone of us has to reap what they have sown. The main message of this surah is that  man evolves through struggle, but if it is believed that life is easy, then he is wrong. The author again cautions mankind that if they think that they are not accounted for their actions, they are mistaken.

Any person living a life of ease and comfort, always prefers to ignore the difficulties of life and chooses the easy path. If one has to grow he has to come out of the comfort zone and confront the realities of life. The definition of Insaan is one who is social, always ready to help others, maintains cordial relationships at the cost, remains in touch with the people around him - sacrificing what he covets most. The consequences of living a life of comfort, disconnects him from the bitter realities of life and gradually he drifts away from his near and dear ones. Health and possessions are not permanent partners, neither they are inter-connected. When his end comes he is lonely because when he had everything, he did not take care of his wealth, health or relationships but lived a self-centered life.

The author also tries to explain about the prosperous path which looks steep at the beginning but yields good results in the end. The steep path is to help near and dear ones at the time of scarcity. The path which does not insist on sacrifice of time, health, wealth, relationships will eventually lead a life of condemnation, covered in fire of envy. 

Such people ultimately become the signs or lessons for others to take heed.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

With the exalted identification of the System of consciousness, The Rehman, The Rahim.

Interpretation:

1 لَا أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا الْبَلَدِ

I (Rasul) don't take part with such lazy / languid mind / person - (translators have deliberately ignored to translate لَا - a very serious mistake, just to justify their version of interpretation)

2 وَأَنتَ حِلٌّ بِهَـٰذَا الْبَلَدِ

And you can resolve with such lazy person / mind - (2:126, 14:35, 95:3)

3 وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

And what you sow so shall you reap

4 لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ

Verily we have evolved social mind in pain / struggle

5 أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ

Does he not reckon that someone will evaluate him ?

6 يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا

He boasts "I have wasted wealth glutinously" 

7 أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ 

Does he not reckon that someone observes him ? 

8 أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ عَيْنَيْنِ 

Have we not made for him spring of sources ? 

9 وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ 

And speech and reputations

10 وَهَدَيْنَاهُ النَّجْدَيْنِ

And guided him with the judgement

11 فَلَا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ

But he has not attempted the path that is steep 

12 وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْعَقَبَةُ 

And what makes you know the path that is steep ? 

13 فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ 

Let go the covetous

14 أَوْ إِطْعَامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ 

Or supplying the means of subsistence in the day of scarcity 

15 يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ 

To a UNIQUE / MATCHLESS, who are near / close 

16 أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ 

Or to a needy (whose thinking is blocked) in need of the process of knowledge

17 ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ 

Then he has become one of those who believed and recommended one another with patience and recommended one another with pity 

18 أُولَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ 

They are those who are blessed 

19 وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ

And those who disbelieve / hide with our signs, they are those who are condemned

20 عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌ

They will be engulfed in jealousy