The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 So he did not quickly enter the steep valley. 11 What could let you know what the height is! 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 Of a related orphan, 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 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 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 Upon them shall be a Fire that will hem them in. 20