The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 in which you are now living 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 and guided him on the two highways? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 Or a needy person in misery 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20