The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 Have We not shown him the ways 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 upon a day of hunger 14 an orphaned relative 15 Or a needy person in misery 16 Then he is of those who believe and charge one another to show patience, and charge one another to show compassion. 17 Such are they that have attained to righteousness; 18 And those who disbelieve in Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left Hand; 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20