The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does he think then that no one has power over him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 and what shall teach thee what is the steep? 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 or a needy man in misery; 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 Those are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20