Al-Balad

lā uq'simu bihādhā l-baladi

I swear by this city––

wa-anta ḥillun bihādhā l-baladi

and you [Prophet] are an inhabitant of this city––

wawālidin wamā walada

[I swear] by parent and offspring,

laqad khalaqnā l-insāna fī kabadin

that We have created man for toil and trial.

ayaḥsabu an lan yaqdira ʿalayhi aḥadun

Does he think that no one will have power over him?

yaqūlu ahlaktu mālan lubadan

‘I have squandered great wealth,’ he says.

ayaḥsabu an lam yarahu aḥadun

Does he think no one observes him?

alam najʿal lahu ʿaynayni

Did We not give him eyes,

walisānan washafatayni

a tongue, lips,

wahadaynāhu l-najdayni

and point out to him the two clear ways [of good and evil]?

falā iq'taḥama l-ʿaqabata

Yet he has not attempted the steep path.

wamā adrāka mā l-ʿaqabatu

What will explain to you what the steep path is?

fakku raqabatin

It is to free a slave,

aw iṭ'ʿāmun fī yawmin dhī masghabatin

to feed at a time of hunger

yatīman dhā maqrabatin

an orphaned relative

aw mis'kīnan dhā matrabatin

or a poor person in distress,

thumma kāna mina alladhīna āmanū watawāṣaw bil-ṣabri watawāṣaw bil-marḥamati

and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion.

ulāika aṣḥābu l-maymanati

Those who do this will be on the right-hand side,

wa-alladhīna kafarū biāyātinā hum aṣḥābu l-mashamati

but those who disbelieve in Our revelations will be on the left-hand side,

ʿalayhim nārun mu'ṣadatun

and the Fire will close in on them.