The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 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 that no one has power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 Yet he has not assaulted the steep; 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 Or the giving of food in a day of privation 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20