The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city. 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Assuredly We have created man in trouble. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Thinks he that none sees him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is? 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 Over them will be fire closed in. 20