The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ I do not (need to) swear by this town (Mecca) 1 And thou shalt be allowed in yonder city 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 Yet he attempteth not the steep, 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the 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 Hand. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20