The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 Yet he attempteth not the steep, 11 What could let you know what the height is! 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20