The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 Of a related orphan, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 Then he is of those who believe and charge one another to show patience, and charge one another to show compassion. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20