The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 And a tongue, and a pair of 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 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 to an orphaned relative 15 Or to a Miskin (poor) afflicted with misery. 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and 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 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20