The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 For you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) are in this city. 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 We created the human in fatigue. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He says: "I have wasted a great deal of wealth." 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 the giving of food upon the day of hunger 14 of an orphaned relative 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 On them is fire closed over. 20