Al-Maun Tafsir
107:1 - 107:7 | Small Kindnesses
This Surah---at least the first half of it---belongs to the early Makkan period. The subject is the meaning of true worship, which requires Faith, the practical and helpful love of those in need, and sincerity rather than show in devotion and charity.
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ
Seest thou one who denies the Judgment (to come)?
فَذَٰلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ
Then such is the (man) who repulses the orphan (with harshness),
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
And encourages not the feeding of the indigent.
6282 The Charity or Love which feeds the indigent at the expense of Self is a noble form of virtue, which is beyond the reach of men who are so callous as even to discourage or forbid or look down upon the virtue of charity or kindness in others.
فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ
So woe to the worshippers
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ
Who are neglectful of their prayers,
6283 True worship does not consist in the mere form of prayer, without the heart and mind being earnestly applied to seek the realisation of the presence of Allah, and to understand and do His Holy Will.
الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ
Those who (want but) to be seen (of men),
6284 Cf. 4:142 : "When they stand up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance."
وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ
But refuse (to supply) (even) neighbourly needs.
6285 Hypocrites make a great show of hollow acts of goodness, devotion, and charily. But they fail signally if you test them by little acts of neighbourly help or charity, the thousand little courtesies and kindnesses of daily life, the supply of needs which cost little but mean much.
6281 Din may mean either (1) the Judgement to come, the responsibility in the moral and spiritual world, for all actions done by men, or (2) Faith, Religion, the principles of right and wrong in spiritual matters, which often conflict with selfish desires or predilections. It is men who deny Faith or future responsibility, that treat the helpless with contempt and lead arrogant selfish lives.