The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 and you are a lodger in this country. 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what do you know what that difficult steep is? 12 It is the freeing of a slave 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 And those who disbelieve in Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left Hand; 19 Fire will be an awning over them. 20