The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And you shall be made free from obligation in this city-- 2 by the begetter, and that he begot, 3 Verily, We have created man in toil. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He says, “I destroyed vast wealth.” 6 Does he think that no one has seen him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 And have shown him the two ways? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! - 12 It is freeing the neck, 13 Or, feeding, in a day of privation, 14 an orphaned relative 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 On them is fire closed over. 20