The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 So he did not quickly enter the steep valley. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 so that he becomes one of those who believe, charge each other to be patient, and charge each other to be merciful. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 And those who disbelieve Our signs - they are the fellows of the lefthand. 19 Over them will be fire closed in. 20