The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance! 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 Their place will be on the right hand. 18 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell). 19 On them is fire closed over. 20