The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And [by] the father and that which was born [of him], 3 That We created man in toil and trouble. 4 What, does he think none has power over him, 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 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 of an orphaned relative 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 the believers who cooperate with others in patience (steadfastness) and kindness. 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