The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 And the parent and the offspring, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 saying, 'I have consumed wealth abundant'? 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not appointed to him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 and guided him on the two highways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 What will explain to you what the ascent is? 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 of an orphan near of kin, 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 and, then besides this, he be one of those who believed, and enjoined upon one another steadfastness and enjoined upon one another compassion. 17 They are the people of the right hand (and will succeed). 18 And those who disbelieve in Our signs, they are the Companions of the Left Hand; 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20