Al-Balad

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ ١

I do swear by this city ˹of Mecca˺—

وَأَنتَ حِلُّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ ٢

even though you ˹O Prophet˺ are subject to abuse in this city—

وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ ٣

and by every parent and ˹their˺ child

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ ٤

Indeed, We have created humankind in ˹constant˺ struggle

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ ٥

Do they think that no one has power over them

يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالاً لُّبَدًا ٦

boasting, “I have wasted enormous wealth!”

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ ٧

Do they think that no one sees them

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ ٨

Have We not given them two eyes

وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ ٩

a tongue, and two lips

وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ ١٠

and shown them the two ways ˹of right and wrong˺

فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ ١١

If only they had attempted the challenging path ˹of goodness instead˺

وَمَآ أَدْرَٮٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ ١٢

And what will make you realize what ˹attempting˺ the challenging path is

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ ١٣

It is to free a slave

أَوْ إِطْعَـٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ ١٤

or to give food in times of famine

يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ ١٥

to an orphaned relative

أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ ١٦

or to a poor person in distress

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ ١٧

and—above all—to be one of those who have faith and urge each other to perseverance and urge each other to compassion

أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ ١٨

These are the people of the right

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔـايَـٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْــَٔمَةِ ١٩

As for those who deny Our signs, they are the people of the left

عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةُۢ ٢٠

The Fire will be sealed over them