Surah Al-Ma'un
الماعون
Surah Al-Ma'un is a 7-verse surah showing that denying the Judgment shows up in behavior: mistreating orphans, neglecting the poor, praying for show and refusing small acts of help.
- Meaning
- The Small kindnesses
- Surah
- 107 of 114
- Verses
- 7
- Revealed in
- Mecca
- Found in
- Juz 30
What Surah Al-Ma'un is about
Surah Al-Ma'un, "The Small Kindnesses", begins with a question in verse 1: have you seen the one who denies the religion, or the Judgment. Instead of describing what that person believes, verses 2 and 3 describe what they do: they push the orphan away and do not encourage feeding the poor.
Verses 4 to 7 then turn to people who do pray. They warn those who are careless about their prayers, who pray to be seen, and who withhold al-ma'un, small everyday help such as lending common household items. Commentators gave examples like a pot, an axe, salt or water.
The surah places neglect of the vulnerable and empty religious display side by side. It is listed as Meccan, though some scholars considered part or all of it Medinan.
The word for the denier's treatment of the orphan in verse 2 suggests pushing someone away roughly. The surah's point is that religion shows first in how a person treats the people who have the least.
Main themes
Faith seen in how you treat others
The surah identifies a denier of the Judgment by his treatment of orphans and the poor. Belief is measured in behavior.
Verses 1–3Prayer without its spirit
Verses 4 to 6 warn those who pray carelessly or for show. Prayer that does not change a person's conduct is called into question.
Verses 4–6Small kindnesses matter
The final verse names the refusal of small, ordinary help. It makes everyday generosity part of religion.
Verse 7
Verses to know
فَذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِي يَدُعُّ ٱلۡيَتِيمَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ ﴿٣﴾
2It is he who mistreats the orphan. 3And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
Defines denial of the religion through two actions: mistreating orphans and not encouraging others to feed the poor.
فَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلۡمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَن صَلَاتِهِمۡ سَاهُونَ ﴿٥﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ يُرَآءُونَ ﴿٦﴾ وَيَمۡنَعُونَ ٱلۡمَاعُونَ ﴿٧﴾
4So woe to those who pray. 5Those who are heedless of their prayers. 6Those who put on the appearance. 7And withhold the assistance.
A warning addressed to people who pray, not to those who don't. It links showing off and stinginess in small things with heedless prayer.
Surah Al-Ma'un in Arabic and English
All 7 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
- 1
أَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِٱلدِّينِ
Araayta allathee yukaththibu bialddeeni
Have you considered him who denies the religion?
- 2
فَذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِي يَدُعُّ ٱلۡيَتِيمَ
Fathalika allathee yaduAAAAu alyateema
It is he who mistreats the orphan.
- 3
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ
Wala yahuddu AAala taAAami almiskeeni
And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
- 4
فَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلۡمُصَلِّينَ
Fawaylun lilmusalleena
So woe to those who pray.
- 5
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَن صَلَاتِهِمۡ سَاهُونَ
Allatheena hum AAan salatihim sahoona
Those who are heedless of their prayers.
- 6
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ يُرَآءُونَ
Allatheena hum yuraoona
Those who put on the appearance.
- 7
وَيَمۡنَعُونَ ٱلۡمَاعُونَ
WayamnaAAoona almaAAoona
And withhold the assistance.
Surah Al-Ma'un PDF
The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.
Questions about Surah Al-Ma'un
What does Al-Ma'un mean?
Al-Ma'un refers to small acts of help or common household items people lend each other. Commentators gave examples such as a pot, a bucket or an axe.
How many verses are in Surah Al-Ma'un?
Surah Al-Ma'un has 7 verses. It is the 107th surah.
Is Surah Al-Ma'un Meccan or Medinan?
It is usually listed as Meccan. Some scholars considered it Medinan, or the first part Meccan and the rest Medinan, because the verses about showing off in prayer fit the hypocrites of Medina.