The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 That We created man in toil and trouble. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 So he did not quickly enter the steep valley. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 Or the giving of food in a day of privation 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 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 Hand. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 On them is fire closed over. 20