Al Balad

1 Nay! I swear by this city.

1 I swear by this city, Makkah -

1 La oqsimu bihatha albaladi

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

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

2 Waanta hillun bihatha albaladi

3 And the begetter and whom he begot.

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

3 Wawalidin wama walada

4 Certainly We have created man to be in distress.

4 We have certainly created man into hardship.

4 Laqad khalaqna alinsana fee kabadin

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

5 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

5 Ayahsabu an lan yaqdira AAalayhi ahadun

6 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth.

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

6 Yaqoolu ahlaktu malan lubadan

7 Does he think that no one sees him?

7 Does he think that no one has seen him?

7 Ayahsabu an lam yarahu ahadun

8 Have We not given him two eyes,

8 Have We not made for him two eyes?

8 Alam najAAal lahu AAaynayni

9 And a tongue and two lips,

9 And a tongue and two lips?

9 Walisanan washafatayni

10 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways?

10 And have shown him the two ways?

10 Wahadaynahu alnnajdayni

11 But he would not attempt the uphill road,

11 But he has not broken through the difficult pass.

11 Fala iqtahama alAAaqabata

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

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

12 Wama adraka ma alAAaqabatu

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

13 It is the freeing of a slave

13 Fakku raqabatin

14 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger

14 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

14 Aw itAAamun fee yawmin thee masghabatin

15 To an orphan, having relationship,

15 An orphan of near relationship

15 Yateeman tha maqrabatin

16 Or to the poor man lying in the dust.

16 Or a needy person in misery

16 Aw miskeenan tha matrabatin

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

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

17 Thumma kana mina allatheena amanoo watawasaw bialssabri watawasaw bialmarhamati

18 These are the people of the right hand.

18 Those are the companions of the right.

18 Olaika ashabu almaymanati

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

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

19 Waallatheena kafaroo biayatina hum ashabu almashamati

20 On them is fire closed over.

20 Over them will be fire closed in.

20 AAalayhim narun musadatun