The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ I swear by this city -- 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what will make you know the path that is steep? 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 And to feed in the day of hunger. 14 to an orphaned relative 15 Or a needy person in misery 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 But those who disbelieve in Our verses, they are the Companions of the Left, 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20