The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 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 those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20