The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 and a tongue, and a pair of 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 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 And those who disbelieve in Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left Hand; 19 On them is fire closed over. 20