The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And you are free (from sin, to punish the enemies of Islam on the Day of the conquest) in this city (Makkah). 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He will say: 'I have destroyed a vast wealth' 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20