The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 in which you are now living 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and 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 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. 20