The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 And the parent and the offspring, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome 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 a pair of lips, 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 Yet he attempteth not the steep, 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 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 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20