The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Does he think then that no one has power over him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 (It is:) freeing the bondman; 13 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger 14 To an orphan, having relationship, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20