The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Does he, then, think that no one has power over him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Thinks he that none sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20