90 Al-Balad   Tafsir Ibn Kathir

90. Surah Al-Balad (البلد), the 90th chapter of the Qur'an, is a powerful Makkan Surah composed of 20 verses. Its title translates directly to "The City" or "The Land", referring specifically to the sacred precinct of Makkah. This Surah is highly celebrated for its sharp sociological critique and its psychological definition of human life. It introduces a foundational philosophy in Islamic ethics: that true human greatness is not achieved through the accumulation or boastful display of wealth, but through scaling the "steep uphill road" of self-sacrifice—namely, freeing slaves, feeding the starved, and systemic poverty alleviation.