The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 in which you are now living 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to 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 The Fire will vault them over. 20