The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 And to feed in the day of hunger. 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20