The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 And thou shalt be allowed in yonder city 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Does He think that no one will ever have control over him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 And pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or the giving of food in a day of privation 14 An orphan of near relationship 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 They are the people of the right hand (and will succeed). 18 But those who deny Our revelations are the people of the left hand: 19 Upon them shall be a Fire that will hem them in. 20