The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Does he think that no one 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 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 an orphaned relative 15 Or to a Miskin (poor) afflicted with misery. 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 17 Such are they that have attained to righteousness; 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20