The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And the parent and the offspring, 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 or a needy man in misery; 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20