01/10/2025
Time to Reflect 🤲🤲🤲
Surah Al-Māʿūn (Surah 107) is a short but very powerful chapter of the Qur’an. It exposes the traits of hypocrisy and neglect of social duties, reminding us that worship without sincerity and compassion is meaningless. Let me present it for you step by step with English translation, meaning, and authentic hadith references.
Surah Al-Māʿūn (107) – The Small Kindnesses
Arabic & English Translation (Saheeh International):
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ
Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense (Judgment/Religion)?
فَذَٰلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ
For that is the one who drives away the orphan,
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ
So woe to those who pray
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ
[But] who are heedless of their prayer —
الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ
Those who make a show [of their deeds]
وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ
And withhold small acts of kindness.
Roman Transliteration
Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm
Ara’aita alladhī yukadh-dhibu bid-dīn
Fa dhālika alladhī yaduʿʿu al-yatīm
Wa lā yaḥuḍḍu ʿalā ṭaʿāmi al-miskīn
Fa waylun lil-muṣallīn
Alladhīna hum ʿan ṣalātihim sāhūn
Alladhīna hum yurā’ūn
Wa yamnaʿūna al-māʿūn
English Translation (Saheeh International)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?
For that is the one who drives away the orphan
And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
So woe to those who pray
[But] who are heedless of their prayer –
Those who make a show [of their deeds]
And withhold small acts of kindness.
Meaning & Explanation
Denying the Judgment (Verse 1):
This refers to people who reject accountability before Allah. Denial of the Day of Judgment makes them careless about good deeds.
📖 Hadith reference: The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The wise one is he who calls himself to account and works for what is after death; and the foolish one is he who follows his desires and merely hopes in Allah.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2459, Hasan)
Mistreating the Orphan (Verse 2):
Pushing away or humiliating orphans was common among Quraysh before Islam. Islam commands care, compassion, and justice toward orphans.
📖 Hadith: Prophet ﷺ said:
“I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be in Paradise like this,” and he held his two fingers together.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 5304, Sahih Muslim 2983)
Neglecting the Poor (Verse 3):
The hypocrites and disbelievers neither feed the poor nor encourage others to do so.
📖 Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said:
“He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while his neighbor is hungry.”
(Sunan al-Kubra al-Bayhaqi, graded Hasan by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Targhib 3001)
4–5. Negligence in Prayer (Verses 4–5):
“Woe” is a severe warning. These are people who perform prayers outwardly but with negligence, laziness, or delay — not fulfilling the purpose of salah.
📖 Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The heaviest prayers on the hypocrites are Isha and Fajr. If they knew what (reward) is in them, they would come even if they had to crawl.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 657, Sahih Muslim 651)
Showing Off (Verse 6):
They pray and give charity only for display, not sincerely for Allah.
📖 Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk (showing off).”
They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk?” He said, “Showing off.”
(Musnad Ahmad 23630, graded Sahih by al-Albani)
Withholding Small Kindnesses (Verse 7):
Al-Māʿūn refers to basic items or small deeds of kindness (like lending utensils, helping, giving water). The hypocrites withhold even the smallest good.
📖 Hadith: Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do not belittle any good deed, even if it is meeting your brother with a cheerful face.”
(Sahih Muslim 2626)
Overall Message of Surah al-Māʿūn
True faith is not just outward worship, but sincerity, compassion, and social responsibility.
Hypocrisy is exposed: they pray but without heart, give but only for show, and refuse even the smallest acts of kindness.
Islam links worship of Allah with service to humanity — you cannot separate the two.
Great — let’s do a short tafseer summary of Surah al-Māʿūn (107) with practical lessons that we can apply today:
🌿
Tafseer Summary – Surah al-Māʿūn
1.
Faith must show in actions (Verse 1)
The Surah begins by describing the one who denies the Day of Judgment.
When someone doesn’t believe in accountability before Allah, their behavior becomes careless, selfish, and cruel.
🔑 Lesson: Always remember akhirah — it keeps us humble, honest, and compassionate.
2.
Care for the vulnerable (Verses 2–3)
The hypocrite is harsh to orphans and ignores the poor.
Islam makes caring for orphans and feeding the poor part of faith.
🔑 Lesson: Sponsor orphans, donate food projects, and encourage others. Even small charity counts.
3.
Prayer must be sincere (Verses 4–5)
Warning to those who pray without attention or delay prayer.
True salah is not just a ritual — it connects you to Allah and keeps you away from sins.
🔑 Lesson: Pray on time, with khushoo’ (focus), not just as a routine.
4.
Avoid showing off (Verse 6)
Deeds done to impress people = wasted in Allah’s sight.
Riya’ (showing off) is called “hidden shirk”.
🔑 Lesson: Do good deeds secretly where possible, purify intention: “for Allah only.”
5.
Be generous with small kindnesses (Verse 7)
Al-Māʿūn means everyday acts of kindness — lending, helping, smiling, giving water, etc.
The hypocrites even withhold these.
🔑 Lesson: Never underestimate small acts of goodness — even a smile, a glass of water, or sharing knowledge is sadaqah.
🌸
Overall Lessons for Today
Link between worship & society: Islam teaches that salah without compassion is empty.
Accountability: Remembering the Day of Judgment motivates sincerity.
Charity & kindness: Helping orphans, feeding the poor, even doing small favors, are marks of true believers.
Sincerity: Protect deeds from showing off — the reward is only with Allah.
Practical faith: Real iman is lived through service, not just spoken.
💡 The Prophet ﷺ summarized it beautifully:
“The most beloved of people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to others.”
(Sunan al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir, Hasan)
