Al Balad

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Nay, I swear by this city -

1 Nay! I swear by this city.

2 And thou art an indweller of this city -

2 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city - -

3 And the begetter and that which he begat,

3 And the begetter and whom he begot.

4 We verily have created man in an atmosphere:

4 Certainly We have created man to be in distress.

5 Thinketh he that none hath power over him ?

5 Does he think that no one has power over him?

6 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth:

6 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth.

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him ?

7 Does he think that no one sees him?

8 Did We not assign unto him two eyes

8 Have We not given him two eyes,

9 And a tongue and two lips,

9 And a tongue and two lips,

10 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways ?

10 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways?

11 But he hath not attempted the Ascent -

11 But he would not attempt the uphill road,

12 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! -

12 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is?

13 (It is) to free a slave,

13 (It is) the setting free of a slave,

14 And to feed in the day of hunger.

14 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger

15 An orphan near of kin,

15 To an orphan, having relationship,

16 Or some poor wretch in misery,

16 Or to the poor man lying in the dust.

17 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity.

17 Then he is of those who believe and charge one another to show patience, and charge one another to show compassion.

18 Their place will be on the right hand.

18 These are the people of the right hand.

19 But those who disbelieve Our revelations, their place will be on the left hand.

19 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand.

20 Fire will be an awning over them.

20 On them is fire closed over.