The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And [by] the father and that which was born [of him], 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 and what shall teach thee what is the steep? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell). 19 Fire will be an awning over them. 20