The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 And a tongue and a pair of lips? 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 to an orphaned relative 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 And to be of those who believe, and urge upon one another to persevere, and urge upon each other to be kind. 17 They are the people of the right hand (and will succeed). 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20