The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He says: "I have wasted a great deal of wealth." 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 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 They are the people of the right hand (and will succeed). 18 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20