The City

لَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ1

Ayah 1

Translation of the meaningI do swear by this city ˹of Mecca˺—

وَأَنتَ حِلُّۢ بِهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ2

Ayah 2

Translation of the meaningeven though you ˹O Prophet˺ are subject to abuse in this city—

وَوَالِدࣲ وَمَا وَلَدَ3

Ayah 3

Translation of the meaningand by every parent and ˹their˺ child

لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِي كَبَدٍ4

Ayah 4

Translation of the meaningIndeed, We have created humankind in ˹constant˺ struggle

أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ أَحَدࣱ‏5

Ayah 5

Translation of the meaningDo they think that no one has power over them

يَقُولُ أَهۡلَكۡتُ مَالࣰ ا لُّبَدًا6

Ayah 6

Translation of the meaningboasting, “I have wasted enormous wealth!”

أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ7

Ayah 7

Translation of the meaningDo they think that no one sees them

أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ8

Ayah 8

Translation of the meaningHave We not given them two eyes

وَلِسَانࣰ ا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ9

Ayah 9

Translation of the meaninga tongue, and two lips

وَهَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلنَّجۡدَيۡنِ10

Ayah 10

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

فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ11

Ayah 11

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

وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ12

Ayah 12

Translation of the meaningAnd what will make you realize what ˹attempting˺ the challenging path is

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ13

Ayah 13

Translation of the meaningIt is to free a slave

أَوۡ إِطۡعَٰمࣱ فِي يَوۡمࣲ ذِي مَسۡغَبَةࣲ‏14

Ayah 14

Translation of the meaningor to give food in times of famine

يَتِيمࣰ ا ذَا مَقۡرَبَةٍ15

Ayah 15

Translation of the meaningto an orphaned relative

أَوۡ مِسۡكِينࣰ ا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةࣲ‏16

Ayah 16

Translation of the meaningor to a poor person in distress

ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ17

Ayah 17

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

أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ18

Ayah 18

Translation of the meaningThese are the people of the right

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا هُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ19

Ayah 19

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

عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَارࣱ مُّؤۡصَدَةُۢ20

Ayah 20

Translation of the meaningThe Fire will be sealed over them