The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 in which you are now living 2 and [I call to witness] parent and offspring: 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And did We not guide him to the two elevated things? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 The orphan near in relationship, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 Those are the Companions of the Right. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 The Fire will be shut over them (i.e. they will be enveloped by the Fire without any opening or window or outlet. 20