The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 and guided him on the two highways? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 17 Such are they that have attained to righteousness; 18 As for those who disbelieve in Our revelations, they are the people of the left 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20