The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 And the begetter and whom he begot. 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says (boastfully): "I have wasted wealth in abundance!" 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? 12 It is the freeing of a slave; 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20