The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 (It is) to free a slave, 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 or a needy man 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 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20