The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 And have shown him the two ways? 10 Yet he has not assaulted the steep; 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 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 As for those who disbelieve in Our revelations, they are the people of the left 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20