The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I do call to witness this City;- 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 Verily We have created man into toil and hardship. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 (He boasts and shows off) saying, "I have spent a great deal of money (for the cause of God)". 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20