The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 in which you are now living 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 We created the human in fatigue. 4 Does he, then, think that no one has power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And did We not guide him to the two elevated things? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin 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 Hand. 18 And those who disbelieve Our signs - they are the fellows of the lefthand. 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20