The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 What, does he think none has power over him, 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell). 19 On them is fire closed over. 20