The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 in which you are now living 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome 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 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and shown him the two paths? 10 Yet he attempteth not the steep, 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger 14 To an orphan, having relationship, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 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 Those are the companions of the right. 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. 20