لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ 1
Translations
I swear by this city [i.e., Makkah]
Transliteration
Lā uqsimu bihādhā al-balad
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah swears by 'this city' (Makkah) to emphasize its sanctity and importance in the divine plan. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this oath as establishing the city's special status, as it is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the center of Islamic worship. The emphatic oath (beginning with 'lā' negating doubt) underscores the certainty of what follows in the surah regarding human moral responsibility and the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Balad is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when the Prophet and believers faced intense persecution in Makkah. The surah's opening oath by the city serves to establish the gravity of the message about moral accountability that follows, using the city's sacred status as a rhetorical device to command attention from the Meccan audience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Makkah: 'This city (Makkah) was made sacred by Allah on the day He created the heavens and the earth, so it is sacred by the sanctity of Allah until the Day of Judgment.' (Sahih Muslim 1353). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized Makkah's honor by stating it is the most beloved land to Allah. (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3925)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that certain places and times hold sacred significance in Islam, and that our connection to these sanctified spaces should inspire us toward greater moral responsibility and obedience to Allah's commands. The oath also teaches that when Allah emphasizes a message through such solemn oaths, we must pay careful attention to the moral and spiritual guidance that follows.