The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two highways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 Or a needy person 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 fellows of the righthand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20