The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what will make you know the path that is steep? 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20