Al-Balad

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

I do swear by this city ˹of Mecca˺—

وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

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

وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

and by every parent and ˹their˺ child!

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ

Indeed, We have created humankind in ˹constant˺ struggle.

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ

Do they think that no one has power over them

يَقُولُ أَهْلَكْتُ مَالًا لُّبَدًا

boasting, “I have wasted enormous wealth!”?

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ

Do they think that no one sees them?

أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ

Have We not given them two eyes

وَلِسَانًا وَشَفَتَيْنِ

a tongue, and two lips;

وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ

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

فَلَا ٱقْتَحَمَ ٱلْعَقَبَةَ

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

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ

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

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

It is to free a slave

أَوْ إِطْعَـٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ

or to give food in times of famine

يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ

to an orphaned relative

أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ

or to a poor person in distress

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْمَرْحَمَةِ

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

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

These are the people of the right.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

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

عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌۢ

The Fire will be sealed over them.