Surah Name: Al-Ma'un (سورة الماعون)
Translation: The Small Kindnesses / Acts of Kindness
Origin of name: The name "Al-Ma'un" comes from the last verse of the surah, where the word refers to small items that are commonly shared among neighbors, such as utensils or basic necessities. Some scholars also interpret it as referring to charity or zakah.
Surah Number: 107
Number of Ayahs (Verses): 7
Makki or Madani: Makki (with some minority opinions suggesting partial Madani origin [1], but the majority accept it as Makki)
Approximate Time of Revelation: During the early years of the Makkan period
Historical Context
While there is some scholarly debate regarding the exact timing of its revelation, the majority of commentators classify Surah Al-Ma'un as an early Meccan surah. Some traditions, cited by Alusi, suggest that it was revealed in Medina; however, the prevailing view remains that it belongs to the initial years of Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) mission in Mecca. The surah is historically linked to specific figures of the Meccan aristocracy, such as As ibn Wa’il, who were known for their public denial of the Resurrection and the Day of Judgment.
The references highlight the harsh treatment of orphans and the refusal to feed the poor by the Quraysh elite. In this context, the surah serves as a critique of the moral decay among the Meccan leadership, illustrating how their theological denial of accountability in the afterlife translated into a lack of social compassion and the hoarding of wealth.
Regarding the latter half of the surah, historical interpretations vary based on the location of revelation. For those who view it as a Meccan revelation, argue that it targets the pagan Arabs who engaged in ostentatious displays of worship while remaining spiritually hollow and selfish [2]. Conversely, those attributing these verses to the Medinan period interpret them as a critique of the "Munafiqun" (hypocrites), who would perform prayers publicly to gain social standing but neglected their religious and communal duties in private. [3]
References:
[1] Âlûsî, XXX, 241
[2] Birkeland, IX [1958], p. 19, 26-27, 29
[3] Taberî, XXX, 201; Kurtubî, XX, 212
Main Themes of Surah Al-Ma'un
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False Denial of Religion:
The surah opens with a powerful question, asking whether the listener has seen someone who denies the religion. -
Neglect of Social Duties:
One major sign of rejecting faith is mistreatment of orphans and not encouraging others to care for the poor. -
Hypocrisy in Worship:
The surah condemns those who pray only to show off, not out of sincere devotion to Allah. -
Refusal to Help Others:
The surah ends by criticizing people who withhold even small acts of kindnesses.
Key Lessons from Surah Al-Maun
- Caring for orphans is a key sign of sincere religiosity.
- Ignoring the needs of the poor and not encouraging charity is condemned.
- Showing off in worship is a sign of hypocrisy.
- Real worship combines devotion to Allah and compassion for people.
Notable Ayahs from Surah Al-Maun
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Verse 1:
"Have you seen the one who denies the ˹final˺ Judgment?"
This verse draws attention to the attitude of those who reject faith and belief in the Hereafter. -
Verse 2-3:
"That is the one who repulses the orphan, and does not encourage the feeding of the poor."
Denying faith leads to mistreating orphans and the poor. -
Verse 4-5:
"So woe to those ˹hypocrites˺ who pray yet are unmindful of their prayers;"
A criticism of those who pray outwardly but lack sincerity and carelessness in their worship. -
Verse 6-7:
"those who ˹only˺ show off, and refuse to give ˹even the simplest˺ aid."
This verse warns against performing good actions just to be seen by others.
