The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Makkah); 1 And thou shalt be allowed in yonder city 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Thinks he that none sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20