The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 Upon them shall be a Fire that will hem them in. 20