The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 11 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?- 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 And moreover to be of those who accepted faith, and who urged patience to one another and who urged graciousness to one another. 17 These are the people of the right. 18 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell). 19 On them is fire closed over. 20