1. I swear by this city (Makka) –

2. …and you, Muhammad, are resident in this city – this is one meaning of the word hill; another is “This land is lawful to you and so you may fight in it.” Allah carried out this promise on the day of the Conquest of Makka. This sentence is interposed in the middle of the oath.

3. …and by a father and what he fathered – meaning Adam and his descendants.

4. We created man – meant generically – in trouble. He was created in toil and difficulty in the disasters of this world and in the hardships of the Next World.

5. Does he suppose that no one has power over him? Does the strongman of Quraysh suppose this? It is said that he was Abu’l- Ashadd ibn Kalda.

6. He says, ‘I have consumed (spent) vast quantities of wealth in opposition to Muhammad.’

7. Does he imagine that no one has seen him? Does he think that no one saw what he spent, and so knows how much it was? Allah knows the amount and will repay him for his evil deeds.

8. Have We not given him two eyes,

9. …and a tongue and two lips,

10. …and shown him the two highways – made clear to him the path of good and the path of evil?

11. But he has not braved the steep ascent.

12. What will convey to you what the steep ascent is? This is repeated because of its great importance.

13. It is to free a slave,

14. …or to feed on a day of hunger

15. …an orphaned relative…

16. …or a poor man in the dust because of his poverty;

17. …then at the same time to be one of those who believe and urge each other to be steadfast – in performing acts of obedience and in refraining from acts of disobedience – and urge each other to be compassionate – to have mercy on creatures.

18. Those who have these qualities are the Companions of the Right.

19. Those who reject Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left.

20. Above them is a sealed (read as mu’sada and musada) – covering – vault of Fire.