The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 What, does he think none has power over him, 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two highways? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 Or to the poor man lying in the 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 Such are they that have attained to righteousness; 18 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell). 19 On them is fire closed over. 20