The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He says: "I have wasted a great deal of wealth." 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 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 shall be a Fire that will hem them in. 20