The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ No! I swear by this land, 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He says: "I have wasted a great deal of wealth." 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 guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 But he hath 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 the feeding in times of famine 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20