The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 What, does he think none has power over him, 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 Yet, he has not entered into Aqaba 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 Over them will be fire closed in. 20