The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 We verily have created man in an atmosphere: 4 What, does he think none 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 Deemest he that none beholdeth 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 do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 so that he becomes one of those who believe, charge each other to be patient, and charge each other to be merciful. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20