Surah “The City, This Countryside”

as rendered by Ali Quli Qara'i — 20 verses

90:1
I swear by this town
90:2
as you reside in this town
90:3
by the father and him whom he begot
90:4
certainly We created man in travail
90:5
Does he suppose that no one will ever have power over him
90:6
He says, ‘I have squandered immense wealth.’
90:7
Does he suppose that no one sees him
90:8
Have We not made for him two eyes
90:9
a tongue, and two lips
90:10
and shown him the two paths [of good and evil]
90:11
Yet he has not embarked upon the uphill task
90:12
And what will show you what is the uphill task
90:13
[It is] the freeing of a slave
90:14
or feeding [the needy] on a day of starvation
90:15
or an orphan among relatives
90:16
or a needy man in desolation
90:17
while being one of those who have faith and who enjoin one another to patience, and enjoin one another to compassion
90:18
They are the People of the Right Hand
90:19
But those who defy Our signs, they are the People of the Left Hand
90:20
[Imposed] upon them will be a closed Fire