The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 He says, "I have spent enormous wealth." 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not grant him two eyes, 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep. 11 Would that you knew what Aqaba is! 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 Or to feed in times of famine 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 Over them shall be Fire closing round. 20