The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ No! I swear by this land, 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 Such are they that have attained to righteousness; 18 And those who disbelieve Our signs - they are the fellows of the lefthand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20