The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ I swear by yonder city 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And the parent and the offspring, 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Thinks he that none sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 (It is) to free a slave, 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 But they who disbelieved in Our signs - those are the companions of the left. 19 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. 20