The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ Nay, I swear by this city - 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 And by oath of your forefather Ibrahim, and by you – his illustrious son! 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 It is freeing the neck, 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 to an orphaned relative 15 Or to the indigent (down) 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 Such are they that have attained to righteousness; 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 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