The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 What, does he think none has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 Of a related orphan, 15 Or the poor in distress; 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 17 Those who do so 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 and the Fire will close in on them. 20