سُوْرَةُ الْبَلَدِ

Surah Al-Balad (90) — Ayah 16

The City · Meccan · Juz 30 · Page 594

أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ ﴿16﴾
Or to a Miskîn (poor) cleaving to dust (out of misery).
أَوْ aw Or
مِسْكِينًۭا mis'kīnan a needy person
ذَا dhā in
مَتْرَبَةٍۢ matrabatin misery

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

16. 1. That is, one who is lying on the ground due to poverty and destitution, who does not even have a home; the meaning is that freeing a neck, feeding a hungry relative, this is entering the difficult pass through which a person, by being saved from Hell, reaches Paradise. Sponsoring an orphan is already a deed of great reward, but if he is also a relative, then the reward for his sponsorship is doubled: one for charity, the other for maintaining family ties. Similarly, the great virtue of freeing a slave has been mentioned in the hadiths. Nowadays, one form of this could be to relieve someone of the burden of debt; this too is a kind of freeing a neck.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

16. Or to a destitute [11] needy person.

[11]
The Qualities of Climbing the Difficult Pass:

Four deeds related to climbing this difficult pass are mentioned here, and all four are connected to spending wealth in the way of Allah, which is naturally burdensome for a person. Earlier, a person was mentioned who spends wealth for the sake of fame, reputation, and showing off, and then boasts among people, saying that he has spent such and such amount on various works. Now it is being explained that if one is to spend wealth, the best uses are these: to spend wealth to free a slave, to help him in his contract of emancipation, to provide grain to people during times of famine or to feed them, to nurture orphans, and if the orphan is a relative, then he is even more deserving of care and assistance. Besides orphans, the needs of other needy people should be fulfilled—those who do not have a hut to live in, a bed to sleep on, clothes to wear, or food to eat. These are the deeds that elevate a person to a high rank. And all these deeds are such that the Book and Sunnah have repeatedly encouraged them and have mentioned great rewards for them.