The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes? 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he would not attempt the uphill road, 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20