The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ No! I swear by this land, 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Thinks he that none sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20