The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 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 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 or to a needy person in distress; 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 who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left. 19 Over them shall be Fire closing round. 20