The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does he think that no one can overpower him? 5 He says: “I have squandered enormous wealth.” 6 Does he, then, think that no one sees him? 7 Have We not given him two eyes, 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And shown him the two ways (good and evil)? 10 But he hath not attempted the Ascent - 11 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?- 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine), 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 or to a needy person in distress; 16 so that he becomes one of those who believe, charge each other to be patient, and charge each other to be merciful. 17 Those are the companions of the right. 18 And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand. 19 On them is fire closed over. 20