Al Balad

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

1 I do call to witness this City; -

1 La oqsimu bihatha albaladi

2 And thou art an indweller of this city -

2 And thou art a freeman of this City; -

2 Waanta hillun bihatha albaladi

3 And the begetter and that which he begat,

3 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child; -

3 Wawalidin wama walada

4 We verily have created man in an atmosphere:

4 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

4 Laqad khalaqna alinsana fee kabadin

5 Thinketh he that none hath power over him ?

5 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?

5 Ayahsabu an lan yaqdira AAalayhi ahadun

6 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth:

6 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance!

6 Yaqoolu ahlaktu malan lubadan

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him ?

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

7 Ayahsabu an lam yarahu ahadun

8 Did We not assign unto him two eyes

8 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? -

8 Alam najAAal lahu AAaynayni

9 And a tongue and two lips,

9 And a tongue, and a pair of lips? -

9 Walisanan washafatayni

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

10 And shown him the two highways?

10 Wahadaynahu alnnajdayni

11 But he hath not attempted the Ascent -

11 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep.

11 Fala iqtahama alAAaqabata

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

12 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep? -

12 Wama adraka ma alAAaqabatu

13 (It is) to free a slave,

13 (It is:) freeing the bondman;

13 Fakku raqabatin

14 And to feed in the day of hunger.

14 Or the giving of food in a day of privation

14 Aw itAAamun fee yawmin thee masghabatin

15 An orphan near of kin,

15 To the orphan with claims of relationship,

15 Yateeman tha maqrabatin

16 Or some poor wretch in misery,

16 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.

16 Aw miskeenan tha matrabatin

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

17 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self - restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion.

17 Thumma kana mina allatheena amanoo watawasaw bialssabri watawasaw bialmarhamati

18 Their place will be on the right hand.

18 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.

18 Olaika ashabu almaymanati

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

19 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand.

19 Waallatheena kafaroo biayatina hum ashabu almashamati

20 Fire will be an awning over them.

20 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round).

20 AAalayhim narun musadatun