The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 Would that you knew what Aqaba is! 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 To an orphan, having relationship, 15 Or the poor in distress; 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 Such are they that have attained to righteousness; 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20