The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Did We not give 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 has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left. 19 Over them shall be Fire closing round. 20