The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does he, then, 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 made for him two eyes? 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 to an orphaned relative 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20