The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 And thou shalt be allowed in yonder city 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance! 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 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 The Fire will vault them over. 20