The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control 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 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20