Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Quran - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub
Al-Balad
لَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ
[1]. God is swearing here by Makkah. So Let us consider this sacred city (of Makkah) and make it a sign of hope and love for both those who live therein and those who visit from outside. May we be in solidarity with, and friends of, all the people visiting Makkah, as living examples of kindness and truth, so that the Qur’an and Sunnah might become the heart of the world.
وَأَنتَ حِلُّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ
[2]. On the day of the liberation of Makkah Mohammad, God's messenger ﷺ, declared: “This town was sanctified by Allāh when He created the heavens and earth and for this it is sanctified until the Day of Judgement. It was not ever allowed for anyone before me to fight in it. Fighting (in it) was only allowed for me for part of a day. (I repeat) It is sanctified for its sanctification by Allāh until the Day of Judgement. Its thorn (branches) shall not be torn down (for fodder), its game (prey) shall not be scared off, lost belongings in it should not be forfeited unless announced and its saplings shall not be cut down.”
وَوَالِدٖ وَمَا وَلَدَ
[3]. I.e., Abraham and Ishmael: the first builders of the Ka’bah. And was also interpreted as Adam and his offspring.
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِي كَبَدٍ
أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ أَحَدٞ
يَقُولُ أَهۡلَكۡتُ مَالٗا لُّبَدًا
[4]. In display of glory and grandeur.
أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ
أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ
وَلِسَانٗا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ
وَهَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجۡدَيۡنِ
فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ
[5]. By studying the Qur’an, and applying His Word, by following the Islamic Monothesm, praying daily, paying the poor-rate, fasting, performing the Umrah and Hajj, going for Jihad, serving the people, and looking after orphans and widows in their distress.
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ
[6]. Paths are different not just in size, but in reasons for why they are this way. The path to destruction is seen as wide because in our fallen world, sin is plentiful and can be found everywhere. We are encouraged, at times, to focus on ourselves rather than others and that greed, pride, and power are all worthy attributes to have. Many will go through this path because it is easy, enticing, and fulfills all their needs and wants, even if temporarily. The difficult path is narrow and few will go through it. It is the path to salvation, of surrendering one’s life to Allāh and following a path that can be challenging but rewarding at times. You will grow more spiritually while on this path, and realize that the world (offered through the wide path) doesn’t have as much to offer you as the difficult path does. Muhammad, the Messenger of God ﷺ said: “Paradise is surrounded by adversity, and Hellfire is surrounded by lusts.”
فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ
[7]. Or a captive from the bondage of slavery, debt and other afflictions. Helping the stranded foreigners and strangers.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Whoever frees a slave, Allâh will save all the parts of his body from the (Hell) Fire, as he has freed the body-parts of the slave."
أَوۡ إِطۡعَٰمٞ فِي يَوۡمٖ ذِي مَسۡغَبَةٖ
يَتِيمٗا ذَا مَقۡرَبَةٍ
أَوۡ مِسۡكِينٗا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةٖ
[8]. When people are starving, sick, or threatened, Allāh summons His people to be the first to provide food, medicine, and safety—all in Allah’s name. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ rebuked some people for thinking they were being faithful with their fasting and prayers while ignoring the actual compassionate work the crisis required: sharing “food with the hungry,” providing “the poor wanderer with shelter,” and clothing “the naked”.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
Allāh will say on the Day of Judgment, 'Son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me.' 'My Lord, How could I visit You when You are the Lord of all beings?' 'Did you not know that one of My servants was sick and you didn't visit him? If you had visited him you would have found Me there.'
Then Allah will say, 'Son of Adam, I needed food but you did not feed Me.'
'My Lord, How could I feed You when You are the Lord of the beings?' 'Did you not know that one of My servants was hungry but you did not feed him? If you had fed him you would have found its reward with Me.' 'Son of Adam, I was thirsty, but you did not give Me something to drink.'
'My Lord, How could I give a drink when You are the Lord of all beings?' 'Did you not know that one of My servants was thirsty but you did not give him a drink? If you had given him a drink, you would have found its reward with Me."
Allāh desires for the hungry to be fed—both physically and spiritually. And He works through us as He meets the need.
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ
عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَارٞ مُّؤۡصَدَةُۢ
