The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 That We created man in toil and trouble. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 What could let you know what the height is! 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or the giving of food in a day of privation 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 Their place will be on the right hand. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20