The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 To an orphan, having relationship, 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 And those who disbelieve Our signs - they are the fellows of the lefthand. 19 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20