سُوْرَةُ الْبَلَدِ
Surah Al-Balad (90) — Ayah 12
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And what will make you know the path that is steep?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَآ
wamā
And what
أَدْرَىٰكَ
adrāka
can make you know
مَا
mā
what
ٱلْعَقَبَةُ
l-ʿaqabatu
the steep path (is)
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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.
(Ayah 13,12) {وَ مَاۤ اَدْرٰىكَ مَا الْعَقَبَةُ … :} What is the difficult path that leads the wealthy to heights? It is freeing a neck, because there is no humiliation greater than slavery, and there is no kindness greater than granting freedom. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَا يَجْزِيْ وَلَدٌ وَالِدًا إِلَّا أَنْ يَّجِدَهُ مَمْلُوْكًا فَيَشْتَرِيَهُ فَيُعْتِقَهُ] [ مسلم، العتق، باب فضل عتق الوالد : ۱۵۱۰ ] "No child can repay his father except that he finds him in a state of slavery and buys him and sets him free." There is another virtue in freeing a neck; Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَنْ أَعْتَقَ رَقَبَةً مُّؤْمِنَةً أَعْتَقَ اللّٰهُ بِكُلِّ عُضْوٍ مِّنْهُ عُضْوًا مِّنَ النَّارِ حَتّٰی يُعْتِقَ فَرْجَهُ بِفَرْجِهٖ ] [ مسلم، العتق، باب فضل العتق : ۲۳ /۱۵۰۹ ] "Whoever frees a believing Muslim neck, Allah will free each of his limbs from the Fire in exchange for each of the freed person's limbs, even his private part in exchange for the freed person's private part." Freeing a neck includes not only freeing a slave, but also securing the release of someone unjustly detained and relieving someone of debt that is burdening him.
