The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 We created the human in fatigue. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not made for 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 So he did not quickly enter the steep valley. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 (It is) to free a slave, 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 the believers who cooperate with others in patience (steadfastness) and kindness. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20