The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20