The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 a tongue, and two lips? 9 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 The freeing of a slave! 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 But those who disbelieve Our revelations, their place will be on the left hand. 19 Upon them shall be a Fire that will hem them in. 20