The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says: "I have wasted a great deal of wealth." 6 What, does he think none has seen him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20