The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance! 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for 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 try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?- 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 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 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20