The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does he, then, think that no one has power over him? 5 He will say: 'I have destroyed a vast wealth' 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for 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 did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 and what shall teach thee what is the steep? 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 Or a needy person in misery 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20