The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 Yet he attempteth not the steep, 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20