The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 the giving of food upon the day of hunger 14 Of a related orphan, 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to 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 The Fire will vault them over. 20