Al Balad

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

1 I swear by this city, Makkah -

2 And thou art an indweller of this city -

2 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city -

3 And the begetter and that which he begat,

3 And [by] the father and that which was born [of him],

4 We verily have created man in an atmosphere:

4 We have certainly created man into hardship.

5 Thinketh he that none hath power over him ?

5 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

6 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth:

6 He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance."

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him ?

7 Does he think that no one has seen him?

8 Did We not assign unto him two eyes

8 Have We not made for 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 have shown him the two ways?

11 But he hath not attempted the Ascent -

11 But he has not broken through the difficult pass.

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

12 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass?

13 (It is) to free a slave,

13 It is the freeing of a slave

14 And to feed in the day of hunger.

14 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

15 An orphan near of kin,

15 An orphan of near relationship

16 Or some poor wretch in misery,

16 Or a needy person in misery

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

17 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion.

18 Their place will be on the right hand.

18 Those are the companions of the right.

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

19 But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left.

20 Fire will be an awning over them.

20 Over them will be fire closed in.