The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 Certainly We have created man to be in distress. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 And shown him the two highways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 Would that you knew what Aqaba is! 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 Fire will be an awning over them. 20