The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 to an orphaned relative 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 so that he becomes one of those who believe, charge each other to be patient, and charge each other to be merciful. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20