The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And have shown him the two ways? 10 But he would not attempt the uphill road, 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 or a needy man in misery; 16 so that he becomes one of those who believe, charge each other to be patient, and charge each other to be merciful. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 Fire will be an awning over them. 20