The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 Of a related orphan, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 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 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20