The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 And did We not guide him to the two elevated things? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 Fire will be an awning over them. 20