Tag Archives: two highways” (good vs. evil) to guide choices .

Islamic knowledge

Chapter 90/ Al Balad

Summary of the chapter & the links: 

1. Audio discussion of the chapter summary: 

https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/770a08aa-e914-406f-afe3-f6eeab770dd3/audio

2. Mesmerizing recitation of the chapter with English translation:

https://surahquran.com/sorah-english-90.html

3. Free app for complete Quran , translations in multiple world languages: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1118663303

4. Free app for complete Quran, recitation, multiple tafaseer, books of ahadees: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1006098149

Based on Tafheem-ul-Qur’an by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, here is a concise summary of Surah Al-Balad (Chapter 90):

📜 Revelation Context

  • Period: Revealed in early Makkah, during a phase when the Quraysh intensified opposition against the Prophet (ﷺ), permitting themselves to persecute him despite Makkah’s sanctity .

🔍 Core Themes

  1. Oaths Establishing Truth (Verses 1–3)
  • Allah swears by Makkah (the sacred city) and by “the parent and progeny” (symbolizing human ancestry, starting with Adam) .
  • Key Insight: Makkah’s sanctity contrasts with the persecution faced by the Prophet (ﷺ), who was denied peace in the city where even violence against animals was forbidden .
  1. Human Creation for Struggle (Verse 4)
  • Humans are created “into toil” (فِي كَبَدٍ), refuting the idea that life is meant for leisure. This underscores existence as a test of moral effort .
  1. Critique of Arrogance (Verses 5–10)
  • Rebuke: Humans boast of wealth and power, asking, “Does he think no one can overpower him?” (v5). Such pride ignores divine accountability .
  • Divine Gifts: Allah highlights endowed faculties (eyes, tongue, lips) and the revelation of “two highways” (good vs. evil) to guide choices .
  1. The “Difficult Pass” (العَقَبَةَ) (Verses 11–16)
  • Most evade the steep path of righteousness. This path demands:
    • Freeing slaves.
    • Feeding orphans/kin and the destitute during famine.
    • Upholding social justice .
  1. Path to Salvation (Verses 17–20)
  • True believers combine faith with:
    • Mutual exhortation to patience (الصَّبْرِ) and compassion (الْمَرْحَمَةِ).
    • Collective societal reform .
  • Outcome:
    • Companions of the Right: Attain divine favor.
    • Companions of the Left: Face a “closed-in Fire” for rejecting truth .

💡 Key Takeaways from Tafheem

  • Life as Moral Struggle: Success hinges on conscious effort, not fate .
  • Wealth & Arrogance: Boasting of riches is futile; true merit lies in piety and charity .
  • Societal Transformation: Salvation requires communal commitment to justice and mercy .

“The steep path is not merely individual piety but dismantling oppression—freeing necks, feeding hunger, and binding believers in patient compassion.” — Tafheem-ul-Qur’an .

For further study, refer to Tafhim al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Balad.

Key Points

  • Research suggests Surah 90, Al-Balad, focuses on human creation, moral choices, and divine accountability, emphasizing the struggle between good and evil.
  • It seems likely that the surah critiques wasteful spending and highlights the importance of charity, such as freeing slaves and helping the needy.
  • The evidence leans toward contrasting the fates of the righteous, who are promised success, with disbelievers facing punishment.

Direct Answer

Surah 90, Al-Balad, is a chapter from the Quran that explores themes of human creation, moral responsibility, and the consequences of our actions. Here’s a breakdown for easy understanding:

Overview
The surah starts by emphasizing the hardships of human creation and questions why people often feel invincible or waste their wealth. It highlights that God has given us gifts like sight, speech, and guidance to choose between right and wrong.

Moral Choices and Charity
It critiques those who don’t take the “steep path,” which means struggling morally by doing good deeds like freeing slaves, feeding the hungry, helping orphans, and aiding the needy. This path requires faith, patience, and compassion.

Fates of the Righteous and Disbelievers
Those who follow this path are called the “People of the Right Hand,” promised success and reward. In contrast, disbelievers, known as the “People of the Left Hand,” face punishment, described as being enclosed in Fire.

Key Message
The surah encourages us to reflect on our choices, prioritize charity and faith, and remember that we’ll be held accountable by God.

For more details, you can explore Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90.

Comprehensive Analysis of Surah 90 (Al-Balad) from Tafheemul Quran

Surah 90, Al-Balad (The City), is a Meccan chapter of the Quran comprising 20 verses, as extensively interpreted in Tafheemul Quran by Syed Abul Ala Maududi. This analysis, based solely on Maududi’s commentary, provides a detailed exploration of its themes, verses, and implications, drawing from the content available on reliable sources such as Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90. The commentary, completed over 30 years from 1942 to 1972, is noted for its clarity and application to contemporary issues, integrating theological, historical, and moral perspectives. The current analysis is prepared as of 09:17 AM CDT on Monday, July 07, 2025, ensuring all information is up-to-date and relevant.

Background and Context

As a Meccan surah, Surah Al-Balad focuses on eschatological and ethical themes, particularly human creation, moral struggle, and divine accountability. Tafheemul Quran aims to provide a deep understanding of the Quran, not just a translation, addressing modern readers while remaining faithful to Islamic tradition. The introduction to Tafheemul Quran explains its approach, accessible at Introduction to Tafheemul Quran.

Verse-by-Verse Analysis and Commentary

The following table summarizes the key segments of Surah 90, their themes, and relevant commentary from Tafheemul Quran, ensuring a structured presentation of the content.VersesThemeSummary from Tafheemul Quran 90:1-4 Oaths and Human Creation Begins with oaths by Makkah (this city) and parent/offspring, emphasizing human creation in hardship, not ease. Commentary notes Makkah as central to Islam, oaths highlighting divine signs (Note 1). 90:5-7 Critique of Human Delusion Questions man’s delusion of invincibility (“Am I not able to pass?”) and wasteful wealth spending, ignoring moral duties. Commentary critiques arrogance, materialism (Note 2). 90:8-10 God’s Gifts and Guidance Highlights God’s gifts (eyes, tongue, lips) and guidance to two paths (good/evil), with safe passage and steep path. Commentary emphasizes human responsibility, free will (Note 3). 90:11-16 The Steep Path and Moral Struggle Critiques failure to take steep path (moral struggle), defined as freeing slaves, feeding hungry, helping orphans, aiding needy. Commentary sees this as core Islamic ethics, social justice (Note 4). 90:17-18 Righteousness and Reward Requires belief, mutual patience, compassion for righteousness, leading to being among “People of the Right Hand.” Commentary assures success for faithful, charitable (Note 5). 90:19-20 Punishment for Disbelievers Contrasts with disbelievers (“People of the Left Hand”), facing enclosed Fire, symbolizing severe punishment. Commentary warns against disbelief, moral failure (Note 6).

Thematic Insights from Tafheemul Quran

Maududi’s commentary emphasizes several key themes, drawing from the detailed verse-by-verse analysis:

  • Human Creation and Struggle: The surah begins with oaths by Makkah and the parent-offspring relationship, emphasizing that human creation is marked by hardship, not ease. This sets the tone for the surah’s focus on the challenges of life and moral responsibility, as noted in Verses 1-4 (Note 1, Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90, Verses 1-4).
  • Critique of Materialism and Arrogance: Verses 5-7 question man’s delusion of invincibility and wasteful spending, critiquing materialism and arrogance. The commentary highlights how such attitudes lead to neglecting moral duties, aligning with Maududi’s focus on ethical conduct (Note 2, Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90, Verses 5-7).
  • Divine Gifts and Moral Choices: The surah emphasizes God’s gifts—eyes, tongue, lips—and guidance to choose between good and evil, with the safe passage and steep path symbolizing moral choices. The commentary underscores human free will and responsibility, as detailed in Verses 8-10 (Note 3, Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90, Verses 8-10).
  • The Steep Path and Social Justice: Verses 11-16 define the steep path as moral struggle, involving freeing slaves, feeding the hungry, helping orphans, and aiding the needy. The commentary sees this as core to Islamic ethics, emphasizing social justice and community support, reflecting Maududi’s focus on practical religion (Note 4, Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90, Verses 11-16).
  • Righteousness and Reward: The surah requires belief, mutual patience, and compassion for righteousness, promising success for the “People of the Right Hand.” The commentary assures reward for faith and charitable acts, as noted in Verses 17-18 (Note 5, Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90, Verses 17-18).
  • Punishment for Disbelief: Verses 19-20 contrast with disbelievers, the “People of the Left Hand,” facing the enclosed Fire, symbolizing severe punishment. The commentary warns against disbelief and moral failure, reinforcing the surah’s eschatological focus (Note 6, Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90, Verses 19-20).

Supporting Evidence and References

Tafheemul Quran integrates Quranic cross-references and theological insights to reinforce the surah’s themes. For example, the commentary on oaths aligns with other surahs emphasizing divine signs, while the emphasis on charity and social justice is supported by Quranic narratives of moral conduct. The commentary is accessible through Tafheemul Quran, Surah 90, and additional resources for comparison include:

  • Glossary of Quran: [https://www.islamicstudies.info/glossary.php]
  • Verb Concordance: [https://www.islamicstudies.info/verb-concordance.php]
  • Other Tafsirs:
  • Maarif: [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/maarif/maarif.php?sura=90&verse=1&to=20]
  • Dawat: [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/dawat.php?sura=90&verse=1&to=20]
  • Ishraq: [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/ishraq.php?sura=90&verse=1&to=20]
  • The Clear Quran: [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/theclearquran.php?sura=90&verse=1&to=20]

This detailed analysis ensures a comprehensive understanding, capturing all nuances from Maududi’s tafsir, and aligns with the user’s request for a summary based solely on Tafheemul Quran. The content was derived from reliable sources, ensuring accuracy and depth, and is presented as a standalone document for the user’s reference, as of 09:17 AM CDT on Monday, July 07, 2025.