Surah “The City, This Countryside”

as rendered by Wahiduddin Khan — 20 verses

I swear by this cit
and you are dwelling in this cit
and by parent and offspring
that We have created man into a life of toil and trial
Does he think then that no one has power over him
He says, I have spent enormous wealth
Does he then think that no one sees him
Have We not given him two eyes
and a tongue, and a pair of lips
and shown him the two paths
But he has not attempted the ascent
What will explain to you what the ascent is
It is the freeing of a slave
or the feeding in times of famine
of an orphaned relativ
or some needy person in distress
and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion
Those who do so are the people of the right hand
and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand
and the Fire will close in on them