Surah “The City, This Countryside”

as rendered by Aisha Bewley — 20 verses

90:1
I swear by this city —
90:2
and you are resident in this city —
90:3
and by a father and what he fathered,
90:4
We created man in trouble.
90:5
Does he imagine that no one has power over him?
90:6
He says, ´I have consumed vast quantities of wealth.´
90:7
Does he imagine that no one has seen him?
90:8
Have We not given him two eyes,
90:9
and a tongue and two lips
90:10
and shown him the two highways?
90:11
But he has not braved the steep ascent.
90:12
What will convey to you what the steep ascent is?
90:13
It is freeing a slave
90:14
or feeding on a day of hunger
90:15
an orphaned relative
90:16
or a poor man in the dust;
90:17
then to be one of those who have iman and urge each other to steadfastness and urge each other to compassion.
90:18
Those are the Companions of the Right.
90:19
Those who reject Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left.
90:20
Above them is a sealed vault of Fire.