The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance." 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 Or the poor in distress; 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 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20