The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 in which you are now living 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says: "I have wasted a great deal of wealth." 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 the giving of food upon the day of hunger 14 Of a related orphan, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 And those who disbelieve Our signs - they are the fellows of the lefthand. 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20