The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I do call to witness this City;- 1 And thou art a freeman of this City;- 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Thinketh he that none hath power over him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does man think that no one saw him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 It is freeing the neck, 13 or giving food on a day of hunger 14 Of a related orphan, 15 Or the poor in distress; 16 Then he became one of those who believed, and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and compassion. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 But those who disbelieve Our revelations, their place will be on the left hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20