Surat Al-Balad (Arabic: سورة البلد‎, "The City"), is the 90th Surah or chapter of the Qur'an. It is composed of 20 ayat (verses). This Sorat is positioned in Para 30 which is also known as Juz Amma (Juz' 30).

Theme and subject matter:
According to an interpretation expounded on in the tafsir (commentary) written by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi entitled Tafheem al Quran, Its theme is to explain the true position of man in the world and of the world in relation to man and to tell that God has shown to man both the highways of good and evil, has also provided for him the means to judge and see and follow them, and now it rests upon mans own effort and judgment whether he chooses the path of virtue and reaches felicity or adopts the path of vice and meets with doom.

First, the city of Makkah and the hardships being faced therein by Muhammad (s) and the state of the children of Adam have been cited as a witness to the truth that this world is not a place of rest and ease for man, where he might have been born to enjoy life, but here he has been created into toil and struggle. If this theme is read with verse 39 of Surah An-Najm (Laisa lil insani illa ma saa: there is nothing for man but what he has striven for), it becomes plain that in this world the future of man depends on his toil and struggle, effort and striving.

After this, man's misunderstanding that he is all in all in this world and that there is no superior power to watch what he does and to call him to account, has been refuted.

Then, taking one of the many moral concepts of ignorance held by man, as an example, it has been pointed out what wrong criteria of merit and greatness he has proposed for himself in the world. The person who for ostentation and display squanders heaps of wealth, not only himself prides upon his extravagances but the people also admire him for it enthusiastically, whereas the Being Who is watching over his deeds, sees by what methods he obtained the wealth and in what ways and with what motives and intention he spent it.

Regarding the virtue in studying the Surah, the holy Prophet (S) is narrated to have said:
"He who studies it, Allah will make him safe from His wrath on the Day of Judgement.”
A tradition from Imam Sadiq (as) says:
“He who recites Surah Balad in his obligatory prayers will be known as a good-doer in this world, and in the Next World he will be considered among those who have rank and privilege with Allah, and he will be of the friends and companions of the prophets, martyrs, and the pious men.

(i) Whoso recites this surah would inshallah enjoy high reputation among the pious people in this world and in the next world live with the prophets and martyrs as their friend.
(ii) Whoso recites this surah Allah would keep him safe from His anger and displeasure and exempt him from the fire of hell.

Reward of reciting Surat Balad
1. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said: For one who recites it, Allah would give him protection against His anger on the Day of Judgment.
2. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said: Whoever recites Surah Balad, Allah would keep him safe from the hardships of Hell on the Day of Judgment.

المصحف المعلم جزء 30 سورة البـــلد ترتيب السورة فى المصحف (90) عدد آياتها (20)

Surah al balad merupakan surat ke-90 dalam Al-Qur’an yang terdiri atas 20 ayat dan termasuk golongan surat makkiyyah karena turun di Mekkah. Isi kandungan surat ini menceritakan bahwa manusia harus berusaha keras mencari kebahagiaan dan Allah telah menunjukkan jalan yang membawa kepada kebaikan dan kesengsaraan. Untuk arti lebih detailnya, Anda dapat membacanya di aplikasi yang berisi surat al balad dan terjemahannya ini.