The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 For you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) are in this city. 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 And moreover to be of those who accepted faith, and who urged patience to one another and who urged graciousness to one another. 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 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 20