The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ No! I swear by this land, 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 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 has not attempted the ascent. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20