Al Balad

1 I do call to witness this City; -

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

2 And thou art a freeman of 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).

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

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

4 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.

4 Verily, We have created man in toil.

5 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?

5 Does he think that none can overcome him?

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

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

7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

7 Does he think that none sees 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 shown him the two ways (good and evil)?

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

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).

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

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

13 (It is:) freeing the bondman;

13 (It is) freeing a neck (slave)

14 Or the giving of food in a day of privation

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

15 To the orphan with claims of relationship,

15 To an orphan near of kin.

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

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

18 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.

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

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

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).

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

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