The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 and shown him the two highways [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] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left. 19 Over them shall be Fire closing round. 20