The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 And by the giver of birth, and whom he fathered, 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he believe that none has seen him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 an orphaned relative 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20