The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 and shown him the two paths? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 Of a related orphan, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20