The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 Would that you knew what Aqaba is! 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 the giving of food upon the day of hunger 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. 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20