The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 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 says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And did We not guide him to the two elevated things? 10 But he would not attempt the uphill road, 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 And those who disbelieve Our signs - they are the fellows of the lefthand. 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20