Al Balad

1 I swear by this city, Makkah -

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

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

2 And thou art an indweller of this city -

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

3 And the begetter and that which he begat,

4 We have certainly created man into hardship.

4 We verily have created man in an atmosphere:

5 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him?

5 Thinketh he that none hath power over him ?

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

6 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth:

7 Does he think that no one has seen him?

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him ?

8 Have We not made for 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 have shown him the two ways?

10 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways ?

11 But he has not broken through the difficult pass.

11 But he hath not attempted the Ascent -

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

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

13 It is the freeing of a slave

13 (It is) to free a slave,

14 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

14 And to feed in the day of hunger.

15 An orphan of near relationship

15 An orphan near of kin,

16 Or a needy person in misery

16 Or some poor wretch in misery,

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

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

18 Those are the companions of the right.

18 Their place will be on the right hand.

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

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

20 Over them will be fire closed in.

20 Fire will be an awning over them.