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 free to live upon it, -- 2 And [by] the father and that which was born [of him], 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Does he think then that no one has power over him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 and what shall teach thee what is the steep? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20