The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 Verily, We have created man into [a life of] pain, toil and trial. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He will say: 'I have destroyed a vast wealth' 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes? 8 One tongue, and two lips, 9 and shown him the two paths? 10 But he has not attempted the ascent. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or, in a day of famine, the feeding of 14 An orphan near of kin, 15 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20