The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says: "I have wasted a great deal of wealth." 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not assign unto 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 would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 or a needy man in misery; 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to 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 and the Fire will close in on them. 20