The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 We created the human in fatigue. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he believe that none has seen him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 So he did not quickly enter the steep valley. 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 As for those who disbelieve in Our revelations, they are the people of the left 19 Over them shall be Fire closing round. 20