The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city, Makkah - 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 (He boasts and shows off) saying, "I have spent a great deal of money (for the cause of God)". 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of 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 hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 or a needy man in misery; 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 Their place will be on the right hand. 18 And those who disbelieve in Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left Hand; 19 On them is fire closed over. 20