The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 That We created man in toil and trouble. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance! 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 Would that you knew what Aqaba is! 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 An orphan, of kin, 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 And moreover to be of those who accepted faith, and who urged patience to one another and who urged graciousness to one another. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20