The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance! 6 Does he believe that none has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And did We not guide him to the two elevated things? 10 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is) to free a slave, 13 Or the giving of food in a day of privation 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20