The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 Of a related orphan, 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 people of the right. 18 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 On them is fire closed over. 20