The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 To an orphan, having relationship, 15 Or a needy person in misery 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 On them is fire closed over. 20