The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city (Mecca) – 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. 20