The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 We created the human in fatigue. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance! 6 Does he then think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 And did We not show him the two highroads (of good and evil)? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 Or feeding on a day of severe hunger 14 Of a related orphan, 15 and downtrodden destitute person, (so that he would be of) 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 (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20