The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ I swear by this city, Makkah - 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 an orphaned relative 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 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 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20