The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I swear by this city, Makkah - 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 But he would not attempt the uphill road, 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 It is freeing the neck, 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20