The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 11 And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? 12 It is freeing someone's neck from slavery; 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 an orphaned relative 15 or a needy man in misery; 16 Then he is of those who believe and charge one another to show patience, and charge one another to show compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 who will be engulfed in the fire. 20