The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 And the parent and the offspring, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He will say: 'I have destroyed a vast wealth' 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger 14 an orphaned relative 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 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 Their place will be on 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 Over them shall be Fire closing round. 20