The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 What, does he think none has power over him, 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 and shown him the two paths? 10 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 And what will make you know the path that is steep? 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell). 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20