The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 We verily have created man in an atmosphere: 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? 10 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 (It is) to free a slave, 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 an orphaned relative 15 Or a needy person in misery 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20