Al Balad

1 I swear by this city, Makkah -

1 Nay! I swear by this city.

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

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

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

3 And the begetter and whom he begot.

4 We have certainly created man into hardship.

4 Certainly We have created man to be in distress.

5 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

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

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

6 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth.

7 Does he think that no one has seen him?

7 Does he think that no one sees him?

8 Have We not made for him two eyes?

8 Have We not given him two eyes,

9 And a tongue and two lips?

9 And a tongue and two lips,

10 And have shown him the two ways?

10 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways?

11 But he has not broken through the difficult pass.

11 But he would not attempt the uphill road,

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

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

13 It is the freeing of a slave

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

14 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

14 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger

15 An orphan of near relationship

15 To an orphan, having relationship,

16 Or a needy person in misery

16 Or to the poor man lying in the dust.

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

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

18 Those are the companions of the right.

18 These are the people of the right hand.

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

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

20 Over them will be fire closed in.

20 On them is fire closed over.