107
Muhammad Asad
AL-MA’UN (ASSISTANCE)
THE
HUNDRED-SEVENTH SURAH
Total Verses: 7
Introduction
THE NAME of this surah, which was revealed in the early years
of the Prophet's mission (probably after surah
102), is derived from the word al-ma’un occurring
in the last verse. The view of some commentators that verses 4-7 were revealed
at
IN THE NAME OF
GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:
1) HAST THOU ever considered [the kind of man] who gives the
lie to all moral law? 1
(2) Behold, it is this [kind of man] that thrusts the orphan
away,
(3) and feels no urge 2 to feed the
needy.
(4) Woe, then, unto those praying ones
(5) whose hearts from their prayer
are remote 3-
(6) those who want only to be seen
and praised,
(7) and, withal, deny all
assistance [to their fellow-men]! 4
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1 I.e., who denies that there is
any objective validity in religion as such and, thus, in the concept of moral
law (which is one of the primary connotations of the term din - cf. note 3 on 109:6). Some commentators are of the opinion that in the above
context din signifies "judgment", i.e., the Day of Judgment, and
interpret this phrase as meaning "who calls the Day of Judgment a lie".
2 Lit., "does not urge",
i.e., himself.
3 Lit., "who are [knowingly] unmindful
of their prayers".
4 The term al-ma’un
comprises the many small items needed for one's daily use, as well as the
occasional acts of kindness consisting in helping out one's fellow-men with
such items. In its wider sense, it denotes "aid" or "assistance"
in any difficulty.