The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 in which you are now living 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and two lips, 9 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 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 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20