Sūra XC. Balad, or The City

The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934], at sacred-texts.com

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Sūra XC.

Balad, or The City.

In the name of God, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.

1. I do call to witness
This City;—

2. And thou art a freeman
Of this City;—

3. And (the mystic ties
of) Parent and Child;—

4. Verily We have created
Man into toil and struggle.

5. Thinketh he, that none
Hath power over him?

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6. He may say (boastfully):
"Wealth have I squandered
In abundance!"

7. Thinketh he that none
Beholdeth him?

8. Have We not made
For him a pair of eyes?—

9. And a tongue,
And a pair of lips?—

10. And shown him
The two highways?

11. But he hath made no haste
On the path that is steep.

12. And what will explain
To thee the path that is steep?—

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13. (It is:) freeing the bondman;

14. Or the giving of food
In a day of privation

15. To the orphan
With claims of relationship,

16. Or to the indigent
(Down) in the dust.

17. Then will he be
Of those who believe,
And enjoin patience, (constancy,
And self-restraint), and enjoin
Deeds of kindness and compassion.

18. Such are the Companions
Of the Right Hand.

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19. But those who reject
Our Signs, they are
The (unhappy) Companions
Of the Left Hand.

20. On them will be Fire
Vaulted over (all round).

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