The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 And the parent and the offspring, 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And did We not guide him to the two elevated things? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 16 the believers who cooperate with others in patience (steadfastness) and kindness. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 And those who disbelieve in Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left Hand; 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20