The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And [by] the father and that which was born [of him], 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 (He boasts and shows off) saying, "I have spent a great deal of money (for the cause of God)". 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 So he did not quickly enter the steep valley. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 [with] fire closing in upon them. 20