Table Of Contents

Meet the Key Figures in Surah Balad: Roles, Significance & Takeaways

This Character Compendium offers a definitive resource on the key archetypes and powerful symbols within Surah Al-Balad, the 90th chapter of the Holy Qur’an. A powerful early Makkan Surah, its name, “The City,” is derived from the majestic opening oath sworn by the sacred city of Makkah, the residence of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The chapter establishes the reality of the human condition as a life of constant struggle and toil (*kabad*). It powerfully refutes the arrogance of the wealthy who boast of their spending and fail to see the signs of God within themselves. The Surah then lays out a clear and practical path to salvation—the “steep path” (‘aqabah)—which is defined by acts of selfless charity, compassion, and communal faith. Each character card delves into the specific portrayal of these figures and concepts, extracting the timeless lessons on the nature of human struggle and the path to true success.

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Al-‘Aqabah (The Steep Path)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-‘Aqabah, the Steep Path or the Obstacle, is a powerful metaphor for the difficult but virtuous path of salvation. It is a path that requires effort, struggle, and a conscious choice to go against the easy path of selfishness and greed. The word “‘aqabah” literally refers to a difficult, steep mountain pass.

Role in the Surah

The Steep Path is presented as the great challenge that the arrogant and heedless human being has failed to attempt. After describing the human who boasts of his wealth, the Surah poses a powerful rhetorical question: “But he has not broken through the difficult pass. And what can make you know what is the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave, or feeding on a day of severe hunger an orphan of near relationship or a needy person in misery.” (Al-Balad, 90:11-16).

Personality & Attributes

The Steep Path is the archetype of **challenging but rewarding righteous action**. It is characterized by its difficulty. It is not a path of ease, but a path of conscious and effortful struggle against one’s own stinginess and indifference. It is the true test of a person’s character.

Major Lessons & Morals

• True salvation is not achieved through wishful thinking, but through attempting the “steep path” of difficult and selfless good deeds.
• The core of this challenging path is social justice: freeing the enslaved and feeding the hungry, especially the most vulnerable members of society.
• A believer should not seek the easy way out, but should have the courage and the resolve to attempt the ‘Aqabah, the path of greater moral and spiritual challenge.

Supporting References

Tafsir literature explains that this passage is a direct refutation of the arrogant man who boasts of his wasteful spending. The Surah essentially tells him, “You boast of wasting wealth? True nobility is not in that. True nobility is in spending wealth on the difficult but truly rewarding acts of compassion and charity.” The ‘Aqabah is the true test that separates the truly great from the boastful.

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Al-Balad (The City)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Balad, The City, refers specifically to the holy city of Makkah. It is the city where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born and where the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed. It is the sacred sanctuary containing the first house of worship built for mankind.

Role in the Surah

The City is the first object by which Allah swears a magnificent oath, giving the Surah its name. “I swear by this city – And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city.” (Al-Balad, 90:1-2). Its role is to be a sacred witness. By swearing by it, Allah gives the message that follows a sense of immense gravity and authority, grounding it in a place of profound historical and spiritual significance.

Personality & Attributes

The City is the archetype of a **sacred and honored land**. It is a symbol of the place where the final revelation began. The statement that the Prophet is “free of restriction” (hillun) in this city is a profound honor, signifying that his presence has made the city even more sacred, or that a time will come (the conquest of Makkah) when he will have authority over it.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Certain places on Earth, like Makkah, hold a special and sacred status with Allah.
• The oath by the city is a testament to the high honor of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whose life was so deeply intertwined with it.
• A believer should have reverence for the sacred city of Makkah and the momentous events that took place there.

Supporting References

The oath by the city where the Prophet resides is a powerful and intimate one. It is a divine testimony to the honor of the Messenger by honoring the very ground he walks upon. This sets the stage for the Surah’s message about the struggle of human existence, a struggle that the Prophet himself was enduring in that very city.

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Al-Insan (The Human in Struggle)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Insan, the human being, is presented in this Surah with a specific and profound diagnosis of their essential condition. This is the archetype of humanity in its worldly state, a state of constant struggle and toil from the moment of birth to the moment of death.

Role in the Surah

The Human Being is the subject of the central thesis of the Surah, the answer to the opening oaths. “We have certainly created man into hardship.” (Al-Balad, 90:4). The human is then depicted as being arrogant, boastful, and heedless of this struggle, failing to use his blessings to ascend the “steep path.”

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by its state of being in **”kabad”** – a state of constant struggle, toil, and adversity. This is our fundamental reality. The Surah then describes the flawed human response to this reality: arrogance, materialism, and a failure to be compassionate.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must understand that this worldly life is an abode of struggle, not an abode of permanent rest. This realization is the key to patience and perseverance.
• One should not expect a life free from hardship. The “kabad” is part of the divine test.
• The correct response to this life of struggle is not to become arrogant or to hoard wealth, but to engage in the “steep path” of selfless good deeds.

Supporting References

Tafsir literature explains that this “kabad” encompasses all of life’s struggles: the hardship of birth, the toil of learning to walk, the effort of seeking knowledge and sustenance, the pains of sickness and old age, and the ultimate struggle of death. The Surah is a call to be realistic about our condition and to use this struggle as a means of elevation rather than a cause for heedlessness.

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Allah (The One God)

Brief Biography / Background

Allah is the proper name for the One, True God, the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all existence. In Surah Al-Balad, He is presented as the All-Seeing Creator and the ultimate Judge who has clearly shown humanity the path to salvation.

Role in the Surah

Allah is the ultimate authority and actor in the Surah. He is the one who swears the opening oaths. He is the Creator who fashioned the human being and gave him his faculties. He is the one who “guided him to the two highways” of good and evil. He is the ultimate Witness who sees the arrogant man boasting of his wealth. He is the one who has defined the “steep path” and who will judge between the Companions of the Right and the Companions of the Left.

Personality & Attributes

This Surah magnificently illustrates Allah’s attributes:

• Al-Khaliq (The Creator): “We have certainly created man…”
• Al-Hadi (The Guide): “And have shown him the two ways?”
• Al-Basir (The All-Seeing): “Does he think that no one has seen him?” (90:7).
• Al-Qadir (The All-Powerful): “Does he think that never will anyone have power over him?” (90:5).

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must have a profound sense of Allah’s constant observation, knowing that He sees all of our actions.
• Allah, in His perfect justice, has not left humanity without guidance. He has clearly shown us the two paths of good and evil.
• The ultimate purpose of life is to recognize the Creator, to use the faculties He has given us to choose the right path, and to ascend the “steep path” to earn His pleasure.

Supporting References

The Surah is a powerful lesson in accountability. The repeated question, “Does he think that no one sees him/has power over him?” is a direct challenge to the heedless human. It is a call to awaken to the reality that we are created beings, living under the watchful eye of an All-Powerful and All-Seeing Creator, to whom we are ultimately responsible.

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An-Najdayn (The Two Highways)

Brief Biography / Background

An-Najdayn, the Two Highways, is a powerful metaphor for the two clear and distinct paths that have been presented to every human being: the path of good and righteousness, and the path of evil and wrongdoing.

Role in the Surah

The guidance to these Two Highways is mentioned as one of the great blessings that Allah has bestowed upon the human being, a blessing that the arrogant man fails to appreciate. “And have shown him the two highways?” (Al-Balad, 90:10). This is mentioned immediately after the gift of the faculties of perception (the eyes, tongue, and lips).

Personality & Attributes

The Two Highways are the archetype of **clear moral choice and divine guidance**. They are “najdayn,” which implies two clear, elevated, and distinct paths. This refutes the idea that the path of right and wrong is ambiguous or confusing. Allah has made the choice clear.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Allah, in His perfect justice, has not left humanity without a moral compass. He has given us both the faculties to perceive the truth and the clear guidance to distinguish right from wrong.
• We are not forced into our destinies; we are free agents who have been shown the two paths and must make a conscious choice.
• The great tragedy of the heedless human is that despite being shown the two highways, he fails to attempt the steep but correct one.

Supporting References

This verse is a cornerstone of the Islamic understanding of free will and responsibility. We are not left to wander in the dark. The paths are clear. The faculties are given. The choice is ours. Our final destination as a Companion of the Right or a Companion of the Left is a direct and just consequence of the highway we chose to travel in this life.

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Ashab al-Maymanah (The Companions of the Right)

Brief Biography / Background

Ashab al-Maymanah, the Companions of the Right, are the righteous believers who have successfully passed the test of this life. They are the ones who chose the “steep path” of selfless charity and who encouraged one another in patience and compassion.

Role in the Surah

They are presented as the first of the two final destinies of humanity, the ultimate model of success. Their identity is defined by their actions and their communal spirit. They are the ones who, after attempting the steep path, are also “of those who believe and advise one another to patience and advise one another to compassion.” (Al-Balad, 90:17).

Personality & Attributes

The Companions of the Right are the archetype of the **successful, compassionate, and patient believing community**. They are characterized not only by their individual acts of charity, but also by their positive social engagement. They are not just patient; they “advise one another to patience.” They are not just compassionate; they “advise one another to compassion.”

Major Lessons & Morals

• The path to salvation is not just about individual good deeds, but also about building a righteous community that encourages its members towards patience and mercy.
• A true believing society is one that is built on the foundations of mutual advice to steadfastness and compassion.
• This is the group that has truly understood the meaning of a life of “struggle” and has passed the test with flying colors.

Supporting References

The description of this group is a beautiful and complete one. It combines the practical act of charity (“the steep path”) with the foundational act of belief (“those who believe”) and the social acts of building a strong community (“advising one another”). It is a holistic blueprint for the successful Ummah.

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Ashab al-Mash’amah (The Companions of the Left)

Brief Biography / Background

Ashab al-Mash’amah, the Companions of the Left, are the disbelievers and the arrogant who have failed the test of this life. Their name signifies their state of misfortune and their wretched final end.

Role in the Surah

They are presented as the second of the two final destinies of humanity, the ultimate cautionary tale. Their identity is defined by their rejection of the signs of Allah. Their final abode is described with a terrifying and final image: “But they who disbelieved in Our signs – they are the companions of the left. Over them will be a fire closed in.” (Al-Balad, 90:19-20).

Personality & Attributes

The Companions of the Left are the archetype of the **ultimate loser and the eternally punished**. They are characterized by their state of absolute misery and confinement. The Fire that is their home is “mu’sadah,” meaning it is covered over, sealed shut, with no hope of escape and no outlet for its smoke or its inhabitants.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The path of disbelief and rejection of the signs of God is a direct path to a state of eternal torment.
• The punishments of Hell are a just recompense for the sins committed in this life.
• The vivid description of their fate is a mercy, a powerful warning designed to steer people away from the path that leads to it.

Supporting References

The image of a “fire closed in” is one of profound and utter hopelessness. It is the ultimate prison, a sealed chamber of suffering from which there is no escape and no relief. This is the just end for those who, in this life, closed their hearts and minds to the signs of their Lord.

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The Arrogant Boaster of Wealth

Brief Biography / Background

The Arrogant Boaster of Wealth is the archetype of the disbeliever who is deluded by his material possessions. He sees his wealth not as a trust and a test from God, but as a sign of his own greatness and a means of boastful, wasteful spending.

Role in the Surah

This character’s flawed mindset is exposed and condemned. After being reminded of his state of struggle, the Surah describes his arrogant attitude: “He says, ‘I have wasted wealth in abundance.’ Does he think that no one has seen him?” (Al-Balad, 90:6-7).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **arrogance, materialism, and profound heedlessness**. He boasts of “wasting” (ahlaktu) his wealth, a word that implies destruction and a complete lack of purpose in his spending. He is completely oblivious to the fact that Allah is the ultimate witness to all of his actions.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must never be deceived by wealth to the point of arrogance and boastfulness.
• Spending wealth in a wasteful or sinful manner is a grave sin.
• One must live with the constant awareness that Allah sees all of our deeds, especially how we earn and spend our wealth.

Supporting References

This verse is a powerful critique of the materialistic worldview. The man’s boast is the very thing that condemns him. The Surah then immediately refutes his heedlessness by reminding him of the blessings of his own creation—the eyes, the tongue, the lips—that he has been given by the very one he thinks does not see him. The argument is a powerful and ironic one.

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The Believers

Brief Biography / Background

The Believers are those who have sincere faith in Allah and accept the guidance brought by His prophets. They are the ones who heed the divine reminder and who successfully ascend the “steep path.”

Role in the Surah

The believers are presented as the ones who are destined for success. Their defining characteristic is that after performing the difficult acts of charity, they are **”of those who believe and advise one another to patience and advise one another to compassion.”** (90:17). They are the ones who will be the “Companions of the Right.”

Personality & Attributes

The Believers are the archetype of the **righteous, the successful, and the compassionate**. They are characterized by their faith, their patience, their mercy, and their commitment to building a virtuous society through mutual encouragement. They are the ultimate victors in the struggle of life.

Major Lessons & Morals

• True success is not just in individual acts of charity, but in being a part of a community of faith that is built on mutual advice to patience and mercy.
• A believer’s life should be one of acknowledging the struggle of life and responding to it with faith and good deeds.
• The path of belief is the only path that leads to eternal security and peace.

Supporting References

The Surah provides a clear and uncompromising contrast between the two final destinations. The believers are the Companions of the Right, who have ascended the steep path. The disbelievers are the Companions of the Left, who are trapped in a sealed Fire. The choice between these two paths is the central message of the Surah.

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The Creator of Man

Brief Biography / Background

This is an archetype representing Allah in His specific role as the originator of the human being, endowing him with the faculties of perception and guidance. The act of creation is the primary proof of His power and His right to be worshipped.

Role in the Surah

The role of the Creator is to be the ultimate authority whose blessings are contrasted with the arrogance of the ungrateful human. After the boaster asks if no one has seen him, the Surah responds by listing the intimate blessings of creation: “Have We not made for him two eyes? And a tongue and two lips? And have shown him the two highways?” (90:8-10).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents **masterful, benevolent, and purposeful creative power**. The Creator is the ultimate reality, the one from whom all existence proceeds. He is the giver of the very tools of perception (eyes) and communication (tongue and lips) that the human uses, often to deny Him.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Reflecting on the perfection of one’s own creation is the most direct path to recognizing the greatness of the Creator.
• The faculties of sight and speech are profound blessings that should be used for gratitude and guidance, not for arrogance and denial.
• The God who so masterfully created our faculties is the same one who has provided us with a clear moral path.

Supporting References

The argument is a powerful and intimate one. It takes the arrogant boaster and forces him to look at his own face, at his own body. It refutes his heedlessness by pointing to the undeniable miracles that he carries with him at every moment. It is a call to see the sign within one’s own self.

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The Feeder of the Orphan and the Poor

Brief Biography / Background

The Feeder of the Orphan and the Poor is the archetype of the truly righteous and compassionate believer. This is the person who has successfully ascended the “steep path” by overcoming their own stinginess and choosing to care for the most vulnerable.

Role in the Surah

This action is presented as the core of the “steep path.” The path is defined as freeing a slave or **”feeding on a day of severe hunger an orphan of near relationship or a needy person in misery.”** (Al-Balad, 90:14-16).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **compassion, generosity, and a profound sense of social justice**. They are the ones who feel the pain of the hungry and the plight of the orphan. Their charity is not a casual act, but is given at the time of greatest need (“a day of severe hunger”).

Major Lessons & Morals

• Feeding the hungry is one of the greatest and most praiseworthy of all good deeds, a central part of the “steep path.”
• A believer has a profound social responsibility to care for the orphans and the needy in their community.
• True charity is that which is given in a time of real hardship and famine.

Supporting References

The Surah gives specific details to highlight the virtue of the act. The orphan is “of near relationship,” emphasizing that charity begins at home but is not limited to it. The needy person is “in misery” (dha matrabah), literally “in the dust,” a powerful image of one who is in a state of abject poverty. The truly righteous are those whose compassion extends to the most desperate of cases.

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The Freer of the Slave

Brief Biography / Background

The Freer of the Slave is the archetype of the person who performs one of the noblest and most difficult acts of charity in Islam: freeing a human being from the bonds of slavery.

Role in the Surah

This action is the very first definition given for the “steep path” (‘aqabah). “And what can make you know what is the steep path? It is the freeing of a slave.” (Al-Balad, 90:12-13).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by a **profound sense of justice, a love for freedom, and immense generosity**. They are the ones who are willing to spend their wealth to give another human being the ultimate gift of liberty. This act is a testament to their high moral character.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The freeing of slaves is one of the greatest and most praiseworthy of all good deeds, a central part of the “steep path” to salvation.
• Islam came to a world where slavery was deeply entrenched, and from the very beginning, it established the manumission of slaves as one of the highest acts of virtue.
• A believer should always be on the side of justice and freedom for the oppressed.

Supporting References

The placement of this act as the very first definition of the steep path is profoundly significant. It shows the immense importance that Islam places on the freedom and dignity of the human being. Before even mentioning the feeding of the poor, the Surah establishes that the ultimate act of charity is to restore a person’s liberty.

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The One who Enjoins Compassion

Brief Biography / Background

The One who Enjoins Compassion is the archetype of the believer who is not only merciful themselves but who also actively works to build a merciful and compassionate society. They encourage and advise others to the quality of *marhamah* (mercy, compassion, loving-kindness).

Role in the Surah

This is one of the defining characteristics of the Companions of the Right. After believing and doing the deeds of the steep path, they are the ones who “advise one another to compassion.” (Al-Balad, 90:17).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **mercy, empathy, and a commitment to social well-being**. They understand that a healthy society is one that is built on a foundation of mutual compassion. They are the agents of mercy in the world.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer’s duty is not just to be compassionate themselves, but to actively enjoin and encourage compassion in their community.
• A successful believing society is one where its members constantly remind each other of the importance of mercy.
• Compassion, alongside patience, is a foundational pillar of the community of the Companions of the Right.

Supporting References

The pairing of “patience” and “compassion” is a beautiful one. “Tawasaw bis-sabr” (enjoining patience) is about steadfastness and resilience in the face of hardship. “Tawasaw bil-marhamah” (enjoining compassion) is about how to treat one another within the community. The successful believer is the one who combines the strength of patience with the softness of mercy.

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The One who Enjoins Patience

Brief Biography / Background

The One who Enjoins Patience is the archetype of the believer who is not only patient themselves but who also actively works to build a resilient and steadfast community. They encourage and advise others to the quality of *sabr* (patience, perseverance, steadfastness).

Role in the Surah

This is one of the defining characteristics of the Companions of the Right. After believing and doing the deeds of the steep path, they are the ones who “advise one another to patience.” (Al-Balad, 90:17).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **patience, resilience, and a commitment to communal strength**. They understand that the “life of struggle” requires a collective commitment to perseverance. They are the ones who support and strengthen their brothers in faith during times of trial.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer’s duty is not just to be patient themselves, but to actively enjoin and encourage patience in their community.
• A successful believing society is one where its members constantly remind each other to be steadfast in the face of life’s struggles.
• Patience, alongside compassion, is a foundational pillar of the community of the Companions of the Right.

Supporting References

The act of “tawasi” (mutual enjoining) is a powerful social concept in Islam. It implies a community where every member is a source of positive reinforcement for every other member. The Companions of the Right are not just a collection of individuals; they are a mutually supportive and resilient community, constantly advising each other to the two key virtues of patience and compassion.

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Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

Brief Biography / Background

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the final messenger of Allah, to whom the Qur’an was revealed. Surah Al-Balad was revealed to him in Makkah, at a time when he was facing intense opposition in the very city of his birth.

Role in the Surah

He is the one who is addressed directly in the opening oath. The Surah swears by the sacred city of Makkah and then immediately addresses him with a statement of honor: “And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city.” (90:2). This is a divine declaration that honors him and gives him a special status in his own hometown, despite the rejection of his people. The entire Surah is a message of guidance for him and, through him, for all of humanity.

Personality & Attributes

He is the archetype of the **honored but struggling messenger**. He is the ultimate example of a human being living a life of “kabad” (struggle) for the noblest of all causes. The Surah is a source of solace for him, reminding him that his struggle is seen and honored by his Lord.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ holds a special and honored station with Allah.
• His life of struggle is a model for all believers who face hardship in the path of their faith.
• The divine message he brought is the ultimate guide to ascending the “steep path” to salvation.

Supporting References

The statement that he is “hillun” in this city is a point of deep reflection. It is seen as a prophecy of the future conquest of Makkah, when he would indeed be “free of restriction” and have authority over the city that had once persecuted him. It is a promise of his ultimate vindication and victory.

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Walid wa ma Walad (The Father and what he Begot)

Brief Biography / Background

Walid wa ma Walad, The Father and what he Begot, is the second object by which Allah swears a magnificent oath at the beginning of the Surah. This is a comprehensive and deeply meaningful pair of archetypes.

Role in the Surah

Their role is to be a witness in the divine oath that affirms the reality of the human struggle. “And [by] the begetter and what he begot…” (Al-Balad, 90:3). This oath refers to the entire chain of humanity, the continuous cycle of procreation and the inherent struggle that is passed down through the generations.

Personality & Attributes

This pair is the archetype of **all of humanity and the process of procreation**. The “father” is most widely understood to be Adam, the father of all mankind, and “what he begot” is all of his descendants. It is an oath by the entire human race and its long history of toil and struggle.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The Qur’an uses oaths by the most fundamental realities of our existence to give its message a sense of gravity and certainty.
• A believer should reflect on their own place in the long chain of humanity, a chain that began with a father (Adam) and continues through all generations.
• The struggle of life (“kabad”) is not a personal or a new phenomenon, but is the shared and timeless inheritance of the entire human family.

Supporting References

The oath by the father and his offspring is a perfect prelude to the answer of the oath: “We have certainly created man into hardship.” The oath is by the very process that brings us into this world, and the answer is the definition of the nature of that world. It is a powerful and perfectly structured argument.