الماعون
Surah Al-Ma’un
The Small kindnesses · Surah 107 · Meccan · 7 verses
1أَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِٱلدِّينِ ١Hast thou observed him who belieth religion.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this question draws attention by provoking wonder: how can someone who sees hunger and plenty, fear and safety, and knows the value of helping one another, deny the Day of Judgement?2فَذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِي يَدُعُّ ٱلۡيَتِيمَ ٢That is he who repelleth the orphan.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the first sign of one who does not believe in the Judgement is pushing the orphan away. A lack of faith shows in how one treats the weak.3وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ ٣And urgeth not the feeding of the needy.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, he not only fails to feed the poor himself but does not urge his family or those who can afford it to care for them; he never thinks of the helpless.4فَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلۡمُصَلِّينَ ٤Ah, woe unto worshippers.5ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَن صَلَاتِهِمۡ سَاهُونَ ٥Who are heedless of their prayer.InsightElmalılı describes prayer as the pillar of religion and a rising up by standing before Allah with the heart. Being heedless of it is losing its spirit and meaning.6ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ يُرَآءُونَ ٦Who would be seen (at worship).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these do nothing for Allah’s sake but only to be seen by people, and only where everyone can see.7وَيَمۡنَعُونَ ٱلۡمَاعُونَ ٧Yet refuse small kindnesses.InsightElmalılı gives two meanings to “ma‘un”: zakat, or a small help no one would refuse, like lending a household item. Whoever refuses even that will clearly never give zakat.