The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction 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 never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 But he would not attempt the uphill road, 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20