The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ Nay! I swear by this city 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 We verily have created man in an atmosphere: 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he believe that none has seen him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 Yet he attempteth not the steep, 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust 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. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20