The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 Assuredly We have created man in trouble. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and two lips, 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 17 Such are they that have attained to righteousness; 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20