The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And the parent and the offspring, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does he, then, think that no one has power over him? 5 (He boasts and shows off) saying, "I have spent a great deal of money (for the cause of God)". 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20