The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ No! I swear by this land, 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And [by] the father and that which was born [of him], 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 and a tongue, and two lips, 9 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 (It is) to free a slave, 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 Of a related orphan, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20