The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 What, does he think none has seen him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 And did We not guide him to the two elevated things? 10 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 They are the people of the right hand (and will succeed). 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20