The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 that We have created the human being to face a great deal of hardship. 4 Deemest he that none will overpower him? 5 (He boasts and shows off) saying, "I have spent a great deal of money (for the cause of God)". 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?- 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he did not venture to scale the difficult steep. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 16 And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. 17 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. 18 And those who denied Our signs, are the people of the left. 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20