The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. 20