The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 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 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 Yet he has not assaulted the steep; 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 Or some poor wretch 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 Those are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 And those who disbelieve in Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left Hand; 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20