The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 That We created man in toil and trouble. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 Yet he has not assaulted the steep; 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or the giving of food in a day of privation 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 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 Over them shall be Fire closing round. 20