The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
۞ NAY! I call to witness this land 1 And you are free to live upon it, -- 2 And the begetter and that which he begat, 3 We have indeed created man surrounded by hardships. 4 Does he think that no one has power over him? 5 He boasts, "I have spent wealth abundant!" 6 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes? 8 And a tongue and two lips? 9 and guided him on the two paths (of good and evil)? 10 But he would not attempt the uphill road, 11 Would that you knew what Aqaba is! 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 Or the feeding on a day of hunger. 14 To an orphan near of kin. 15 or some needy person in distress, 16 Then he became of those who believed and enjoined on each other steadfastness and enjoined on each other compassion. 17 They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise), 18 But those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they are those on the Left Hand (the dwellers of Hell). 19 and the Fire will close in on them. 20