Al Balad

1 Nay! I swear by this city.

1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. I swear by this city (Makkah);

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

2 And you are free (from sin, and to punish the enemies of Islam on the Day of the conquest) in this city (Makkah).

3 And the begetter and whom he begot.

3 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam عليه السلام) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny).

4 Certainly We have created man to be in distress.

4 Verily, We have created man in toil.

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

5 Does he think that none can overcome him?

6 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth.

6 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!"

7 Does he think that no one sees him?

7 Does he think that none sees him?

8 Have We not given 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 pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways?

10 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)?

11 But he would not attempt the uphill road,

11 But he has not attempted to pass on the path that is steep (i.e. the path which will lead to goodness and success).

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

12 And what will make you know the path that is steep?

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

13 (It is) freeing a neck (slave)

14 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger

14 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine),

15 To an orphan, having relationship,

15 To an orphan near of kin.

16 Or to the poor man lying in the dust.

16 Or to a Miskin (poor) cleaving to dust (out of misery).

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

17 Then he became one of those who believed (in the Islamic Monotheism) and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion.

18 These are the people of the right hand.

18 They are those on the Right Hand (i.e. the dwellers of Paradise),

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

19 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell).

20 On them is fire closed over.

20 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet.