The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Does he think that no one has 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 given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the 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 the people of the right hand (and will succeed). 18 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20