The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 Assuredly We have created man in trouble. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Thinks he that none sees him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes? 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?- 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 And to feed in the day of hunger. 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the 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. 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20