The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 Of a related orphan, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 the believers who cooperate with others in patience (steadfastness) and kindness. 17 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 Upon them shall be a Fire that will hem them in. 20