The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 in which you are now living 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 We created the human in fatigue. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And have shown him the two ways? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 To an orphan, having relationship, 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 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 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20