The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And thou shalt be allowed in yonder city 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 What, does he think none has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes? 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and shown him the two paths? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?- 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20