The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 That We created man in toil and trouble. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth 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 could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 And to feed in the day of hunger. 14 to an orphaned relative 15 Or the poor in distress; 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 17 Their place will be on the right hand. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20