The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And thou art an indweller of this city - 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 We have certainly created man into hardship. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance." 6 Deemest he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue and two lips? 9 and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? 10 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 To an orphan, having relationship, 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 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 Those are the companions of the right. 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 with the Fire closed above them. 20