لَقَد خَلَقنَا الإِنسانَ في كَبَدٍ

We created man in struggle.

أَيَحسَبُ أَن لَن يَقدِرَ عَلَيهِ أَحَدٌ

Does he think that no one can overpower him?

يَقولُ أَهلَكتُ مالًا لُبَدًا

He boasts, “I have squandered a great wealth.”

أَيَحسَبُ أَن لَم يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ

Does he think that none sees him?

أَلَم نَجعَل لَهُ عَينَينِ

Didn’t We give him two eyes?

وَهَدَيناهُ النَّجدَينِ

And We guided him to the two diverging ways?

فَلَا اقتَحَمَ العَقَبَةَ

Yet he didn’t attempt the Ascent.

وَما أَدراكَ مَا العَقَبَةُ

And what will make you comprehend what theAscent is?

فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ

It is the freeing of a slave.

أَو إِطعامٌ في يَومٍ ذي مَسغَبَةٍ

Or providing food on a day of widespread hunger.