The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 Or a needy person in misery 16 the believers who cooperate with others in patience (steadfastness) and kindness. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20