| Number: | 107 |
| Number-3: | 107 |
| Arabic: Al-Māʻūn|italic=no | |
| Name-Ar: | ٱلمَاعُون |
| Name-En: | The Acts of Kindness |
| Prev Sura: | Quran 106 |
| Next Sura: | Quran 108 |
| Classification: | Meccan |
| Othernames: | Almsgiving, The Daily Necessaries, Charity, Assistance |
| Juz: | 30 |
| Verses: | 7 |
| Words: | 25 |
| Letters: | 114 |
| Audio: | Chapter 107, Al-Ma'un (Mujawwad) - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3 |
Al-Ma'un (Arabic: الماعون, Arabic: al-māʻūn, "Small Kindnesses, Almsgiving, Acts of Kindness, and Have You Seen") is the 107th surah of the Qur'an, with 7 ayat or verses.
[1] Have you seen the one who denies the ˹final˺ Judgment?
That is the one who repulses the orphan,
and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
So woe to those ˹hypocrites˺ who pray
yet are unmindful of their prayers;
those who ˹only˺ show off,
and refuse to give ˹even the simplest˺ aid.
According to Abul A'la Maududi in his Chapter Introductions to the Quran, Ibn Abbas was cited by differing narrators as to whether it is a Medinan or Meccan surah. According to Maududi, it is more likely for the surah to be Medinan, given that the hypocritical unmindful worshippers addressed (especially in verses 4-6) would not have been seen in Mecca, where Muslims were persecuted for practicing their religion openly. Whereas in Medina, where Muslims held power, such people would be expected.[2]
Arabic: Bismi l-lāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm(i)
This surah is concerned with two of the core teachings of Islam, how one prays and how one gives.[4] The Surah discusses the character of those who claim to be Muslims but are oblivious of the hereafter. These people deprive the orphans of their rights, are heedless to the dues of the destitute, and pray without holding God in remembrance, forgetting the objective behind prayer. Their charitable acts are a display of their false piety, since they do not give for the love of God. The Surah has been so designated after the word al-ma`un occurring at the end of the last verse. Abdullah ibn Masud said: "During the time of the Messenger of God we used to consider ma'un (things of daily use) lending a bucket and cooking-pot."[5]
Ibn Abbas said: "(Those who are neglectful of their prayer) are the ones who delay their prayer."[6]
According to 'Alī ibn Ahmad al-Wāhidī (d. 468/1075), Muqatil and al-Kalbi reported that the sūrah was revealed about Al-'As ibn Wa'il, while Ibn Jurayj reported that the immediate cause of relation was Abu Sufyan ibn Harb's driving an orphan away with a stick.[7]
| Phase | From | To | Central theme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Indhar (Warning) | |||
| II | Indhar-i ‘am (Augmented Warning) | |||
| III | Itmam al-Hujjah (Conclusive Communication of the Truth) | |||
| IV | Al-Ma'un | Hijrah and Bara’ah (Migration and Acquittal) | ||
| V | The Conclusion/The End |
In the previous pair of sūrahs – Al-Fil and Quraysh (surah) – it is explained that the tribe of Quraysh has been blessed with the favors of peace and sustenance because of the Kaaba. These blessings should have induced them to worship the Lord of this Sacred House with all sincerity and should have striven to fulfill the objective for which it was built and given in their custody.[8] [9] Surah al-Ma‘un is directed at the Quraysh, and its theme is to inform their leadership, of the doom that has been destined for them because of their crimes.
This surah complement the subject-matter of the next surah Al-Kawthar. The first surah presents a charge sheet of the crimes of the leadership of the Quraysh, the characters of the Quraysh chiefs is depicted along with the warning, while the succeeding surah declares their removal from the custodianship of the Kaaba and gives glad tidings to Muhammad.[10] [8]