The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance." 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 and guided him on the two highways? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 Of a related orphan, 15 or a needy man in misery; 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell). 19 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. 20