The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 and you are dwelling in this city -- 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?- 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And have shown him the two ways? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 To free a neck (from the burden of debt or slavery), 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 Or the poor in distress; 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another 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 On them is fire closed over. 20