البلد

La oqsimu bihatha albaladi

I do swear by this city [of Makkah] –

Waanta hillun bihatha albaladi

and you are free of restriction [for a while] in this city[1] –

Wawalidin wama walada

and by every parent[2] and his offspring,

Laqad khalaqna alinsana fee kabadin

We have created man in hardship.

Ayahsabu an lan yaqdira AAalayhi ahadun

Does he think that none can ever have power over him?

Yaqoolu ahlaktu malan lubadan

He says, “I have squandered enormous wealth!”

Ayahsabu an lam yarahu ahadun

Does he think that no one sees him?

Alam najAAal lahu AAaynayni

Have We not given him two eyes,

Walisanan washafatayni

and a tongue and two lips,

Wahadaynahu alnnajdayni

and shown him the two ways [of right and wrong]?

Fala iqtahama alAAaqabata

Yet he did not make his way through the steep path[3],

Wama adraka ma alAAaqabatu

and how do you know what the steep path is?

Fakku raqabatin

It is freeing a slave,

Aw itAAamun fee yawmin thee masghabatin

or giving food on a day of hunger,

Yateeman tha maqrabatin

to an orphan relative,

Aw miskeenan tha matrabatin

or to a needy person in misery,

Thumma kana mina allatheena amanoo watawasaw bialssabri watawasaw bialmarhamati

then [most importantly] to be one of those who believe and exhort one another to patience and exhort one another to compassion.

Olaika ashabu almaymanati

Such are the people of the Right[4].

Waallatheena kafaroo biayatina hum ashabu almashamati

As for those who reject Our signs, they are the people of the Left[5],

AAalayhim narun musadatun

who will be locked up in the Fire.