The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 in which you are now living 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 And to feed in the day of hunger. 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 And moreover to be of those who accepted faith, and who urged patience to one another and who urged graciousness to one another. 17 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20