The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 in which you are now living 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Does he believe that none has seen him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 (It is) to free a slave, 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and 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 Over them will be fire closed in. 20