The Town (Al-Balad)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ I do call to witness this City;- 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;- 3 That We created man in toil and trouble. 4 What, does he think none has power over him, 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not given 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 could not scale the steep ascent. 11 And what have you understood, what the valley is! 12 The freeing of a slave, 13 or the feeding in times of famine 14 of an orphaned relative 15 Or the poor in distress; 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 These are the People of the Right Hand. 18 As for those who rejected Our Signs, they are the People of the Left Hand. 19 Upon them is a fire, in which they are imprisoned, closed and shut above them. 20