The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I do call to witness this City;- 1 And you, [O Muhammad], are free of restriction in this city - 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not appointed to 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 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 or to a destitute lying in dust; 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 Those who do so 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 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20