The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes? 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 or a needy man in misery; 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20