The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20