The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 And the parent and the offspring, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance." 6 Does man think that no one saw 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 broken through the difficult pass. 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 To an orphan, having relationship, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 Upon them shall be a Fire that will hem them in. 20