The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ I do call to witness this City;- 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 into toil and struggle. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 Yet, he has not entered into Aqaba 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent 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 privation 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 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 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20