The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 in which you are now living 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 And did We not guide him to the two elevated things? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what will make you know the path that is steep? 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 an orphaned relative 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 Their place will be on the right hand. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20