The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Thinks he that none sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 As for those who disbelieve in Our revelations, they are the people of the left 19 On them is fire closed over. 20