The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 in which you are now living 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 (He boasts and shows off) saying, "I have spent a great deal of money (for the cause of God)". 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 And moreover to be of those who accepted faith, and who urged patience to one another and who urged graciousness to one another. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 On them is fire closed over. 20