The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 And thou shalt be allowed in yonder city 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 And to feed in the day of hunger. 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 or to a needy person in distress; 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 they that have attained to righteousness; 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20