Al Balad

1 I do call to witness this City; -

1 I swear by this city, Makkah -

2 And thou art a freeman of this City; -

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

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

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

4 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

4 We have certainly created man into hardship.

5 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?

5 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

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

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

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

7 Does he think that no one has seen him?

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

8 Have We not made for him two eyes?

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

9 And a tongue and two lips?

10 And shown him the two highways?

10 And have shown him the two ways?

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

11 But he has not broken through the difficult pass.

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

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

13 (It is:) freeing the bondman;

13 It is the freeing of a slave

14 Or the giving of food in a day of privation

14 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

15 To the orphan with claims of relationship,

15 An orphan of near relationship

16 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.

16 Or a needy person in misery

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

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

18 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.

18 Those are the companions of the right.

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

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

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

20 Over them will be fire closed in.