The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And thou shalt be allowed in yonder city 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20