The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He will say: 'I have destroyed a vast wealth' 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and two lips, 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 and what shall teach thee what is the steep? 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 Of a related orphan, 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 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 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