The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 the giving of food upon the day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20