The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city, Makkah - 1 in which you are now living 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 That We created man in toil and trouble. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 (He boasts and shows off) saying, "I have spent a great deal of money (for the cause of God)". 6 Thinks he that none sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he would not attempt the uphill road, 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 or to a 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 those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20