The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Does man think that no one saw 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 Yet he has not assaulted the steep; 11 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?- 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 Their place will be on the right hand. 18 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20