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 by the begetter and that which he begat, 3 that We have created man into a life of toil and trial. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 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 showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 But he would not try to ascend the steep uphill road... 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 Of a related orphan, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 17 These are the people 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 On them is fire closed over. 20