Surah “The City, This Countryside”

as rendered by A. S. Mohamed — 20 verses

I swear by this town,
and you are a resident in this town,
and by a begetter and what he begot:
We have created the human being into hardship.
Does he think that no one will have control over him?
He says, "I have squandered vast wealth."
Does he think that no one has seen him?
Did We not make for him two eyes,
a tongue, and two lips,
and showed him the two ways?
But he has not attempted to break through the difficult path!
And how would you know what the difficult path is?
It is the freeing of a slave,
or feeding on a day of great hunger
an orphaned relative,
or a needy person in misery,
and then to be one of those who believed and encouraged one another to exercise patience, and encouraged one another to show compassion.
Those are the companions of the bliss.
As for those who disbelieved in Our revelations, they are the companions of the misery.
Over them is an enclosed Fire.