The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or the poor in distress; 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. 20