The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?- 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 to an orphaned relative 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left. 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20