Al Balad

1 Nay! I swear by this city.

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

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

2 And thou art an indweller of this city -

3 And the begetter and whom he begot.

3 And the begetter and that which he begat,

4 Certainly We have created man to be in distress.

4 We verily have created man in an atmosphere:

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

5 Thinketh he that none hath power over him ?

6 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth.

6 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth:

7 Does he think that no one sees him?

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him ?

8 Have We not given him two eyes,

8 Did We not assign unto 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 guide him to the parting of the mountain ways ?

11 But he would not attempt the uphill road,

11 But he hath not attempted the Ascent -

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

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

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

13 (It is) to free a slave,

14 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger

14 And to feed in the day of hunger.

15 To an orphan, having relationship,

15 An orphan near of kin,

16 Or to the poor man lying in the dust.

16 Or some poor wretch in misery,

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

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

18 These are the people of the right hand.

18 Their place will be on the right hand.

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

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

20 On them is fire closed over.

20 Fire will be an awning over them.