The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And have shown him the two ways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or the giving of food in a day of privation 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 so that he becomes one of those who believe, charge each other to be patient, and charge each other to be merciful. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 Over them shall be Fire closing round. 20