The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 and shown him the two paths? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 It is freeing the neck, 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 As for those who disbelieve in Our revelations, they are the people of the left 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20