The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 – this city wherein you have been rendered violable– 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 indeed, We created man in trouble. 4 Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? 5 He will say: 'I have destroyed a vast wealth' 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips, 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 Yet he attempteth not the steep, 11 Would that you knew what Aqaba is! 12 (It is) the freeing of a slave, 13 Or the giving of food in a day of hunger 14 Of a related orphan, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 Then he is of those who believe and charge one another to show patience, and charge one another to show compassion. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 The Fire will vault them over. 20