The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 And by the begetter (i.e. Adam) and that which he begot (i.e. his progeny); 3 Assuredly We have created man in trouble. 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 He saith: I have wasted riches plenteous. 6 Does he believe that none has seen him? 7 Did We not make two eyes for him? 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 And shown unto him the two highways? 10 But he could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? 12 It is the setting free of a slave 13 And to feed in the day of hunger. 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 Or of a homeless needy person! 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 These are the fellows of the righthand. 18 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20