The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance." 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 Or the poor in distress; 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 These are the fellows of the righthand. 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