Al Balad

1 I swear by this city, Makkah -

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

1 I do call to witness this City; -

2 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction 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).

2 And thou art a freeman of this City; -

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

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

3 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child; -

4 We have certainly created man into hardship.

4 Verily, We have created man in toil.

4 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

5 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

5 Does he think that none can overcome him?

5 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?

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

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

6 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance!

7 Does he think that no one has seen him?

7 Does he think that none sees him?

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

8 Have We not made for him two eyes?

8 Have We not made for him two eyes,

8 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? -

9 And a tongue and two lips?

9 And a tongue and two lips?

9 And a tongue, and a pair of lips? -

10 And have shown him the two ways?

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

10 And shown him the two highways?

11 But he has not broken through the difficult pass.

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).

11 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep.

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

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

12 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep? -

13 It is the freeing of a slave

13 (It is) freeing a neck (slave)

13 (It is:) freeing the bondman;

14 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

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

14 Or the giving of food in a day of privation

15 An orphan of near relationship

15 To an orphan near of kin.

15 To the orphan with claims of relationship,

16 Or a needy person in misery

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

16 Or to the indigent (down) 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 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.

17 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self - restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion.

18 Those are the companions of the right.

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

18 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.

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

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).

19 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand.

20 Over them will be fire closed in.

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

20 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round).