The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 What, does he think none has power over him, 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what will make you know the path that is steep? 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left. 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20