The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 482
CH. 90 PT. 30 سُورَةُ الْبَلَدِ مَكِيةُ ٩٠ ركوعها (AL-BALAD) بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ 1. "In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. 2. Nay, I call to witness this City-4723 3. And thou art a dweller in this City-4724 "See 1:1. 52:5; 95:4. لَا أُقْسِمُ بِهَذَا الْبَلَدِن وَاَنْتَ حِلٌّ بِهَذَا الْبَلَدِة which means, he was or became free from an obligation or responsibility; it was or became lawful. They say alighted upon them or the punishment was necessitated by the requirements of justice to take effect upon them. means, he alighted or dwelt in the house. ac discharge of my obligatory on him. means, the right became (ḥillun) means: 4723. Commentary: According to some authorities, the particle has been used here to draw pointed attention to the subject which i. e. the punishment is about to be introduced. According to them, the meaning of the verse is: "Listen! Listen! I call to witness this city. " Some other scholars think that the verse signifies that the subject which is going to be introduced is so clear and obvious that it needs no swearing to support it. Yet according to another school the particle is intended to refute an understood objection and the meaning of the verse is: "Not that thou art a forger, as the disbelievers think. Thou art not a forger but a true Prophet of God and this city is called to bear witness to this fact. " But more appropriately the verse would mean something like this: "You harbour evil designs about Islam, O, disbelievers! I know what is in your minds, but I tell you that it would never happen as you desire, and I cite this city as a witness to this fact. " 4724. Important Words: (dweller) is derived from 3378 (1) the place outside the sacred precincts of Mecca; (2) the thing the doing of which is lawful; (3) target; (4) free from obligation; (5) alighting or dwelling in a place (Lane & Aqrab). Commentary: According to the different meanings of the word given under Important Words the verse would signify: (1) It is considered lawful to do you any harm, even to kill you, in this city of Mecca which is so sacred that the doing of harm to a living creature in its precincts, not to say of killing it, is strictly forbidden. (2) Thou alone art the target of every conceivable abuse, harm, injury, cruelty or violence against life, property or honour in this