The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 And [by] the father and that which was born [of him], 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 to an orphaned relative 15 Or the poor 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 These are the people of the right hand. 18 And those who disbelieve Our signs - they are the fellows of the lefthand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20