The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Does he think then that no one has power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 Yet he attempteth not the steep, 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20