The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 Have We not shown him the ways 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 The freeing of a slave! 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 They are the people of the right hand (and will succeed). 18 But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left. 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20