The Town (Al-Balad)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
۞ I do call to witness this City;- 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 and I swear by the parent and his offspring: 3 We verily have created man in an atmosphere: 4 Does he think that none has power over him! 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not give him two eyes, 8 a tongue, and two lips, 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he has not broken through the difficult pass. 11 And what will make you know the path that is steep? 12 (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.) 13 or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or to the poor man lying in the dust. 16 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 over them is a Fire covered down. 20