Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Font
1
١
ara-ayta alladhī yukadhibu bil-dīni
Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?
2
٢
fadhālika alladhī yaduʿʿu l-yatīma
For that is the one who drives away the orphan
3
٣
walā yaḥuḍḍu ʿalā ṭaʿāmi l-mis'kīni
And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
4
٤
fawaylun lil'muṣallīna
So woe to those who pray
5
٥
alladhīna hum ʿan ṣalātihim sāhūna
[But] who are heedless of their prayer -
6
٦
alladhīna hum yurāūna
Those who make show [of their deeds]
7
٧
wayamnaʿūna l-māʿūna
And withhold [simple] assistance.
Surah Al-Ma'un (The Small kindnesses) — Full Text
Ayah 1
أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يُكَذِّبُ بِٱلدِّينِ
Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?
Allah opens with a powerful rhetorical question: do you see the person who denies the Day of Judgment? The word "Din" here means accountability — the idea that one day, everything you did will matter. This is the root cause of everything that follows in the surah. When someone truly doesn't believe they'll ever be held accountable, it fundamentally changes how they treat people.
Ayah 2
فَذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يَدُعُّ ٱلْيَتِيمَ
For that is the one who drives away the orphan
Here's what that disbelief looks like in action: they push orphans aside. Not just neglect — they actively mistreat them, deny them their rights, and show zero compassion to kids who've already lost everything. The connection is direct: if you don't think there's a Day where you'll answer for how you treated the vulnerable, why would you bother being kind to them?
Ayah 3
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلْمِسْكِينِ
And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
It gets worse — they don't even encourage others to feed the poor. Notice it doesn't just say they refuse to feed the needy themselves; they won't even nudge someone else to do it. They're so disconnected from caring about others that helping the less fortunate isn't even on their radar. That's how deep the selfishness runs when accountability is off the table.
Ayah 4
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ
So woe to those who pray
Now the surah shifts to a different kind of person, and this part hits hard. "Woe" — which means severe destruction — is announced for people who pray. Wait, people who pray? That sounds confusing until you read the next ayah. Allah is about to describe a type of worship that's completely hollow, and the punishment for it is serious.
Ayah 5
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ
[But] who are heedless of their prayer1 -
These are people who are heedless OF their prayer — not just occasionally distracted during it. There's a huge difference. Being distracted during prayer happens to everyone and isn't what's being called out here. This is about people who fundamentally don't care about prayer itself — they skip it, constantly delay it way past its time, or only do it when someone's watching. The prayer has no real place in their hearts.
Ayah 6
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَآءُونَ
Those who make show [of their deeds]
This ayah reveals their real motivation: they only do good deeds to be seen by others. Their worship is a performance, not a conversation with Allah. They pray to look good, give to get praise, and act righteous for the social clout. When no one's watching, there's nothing there. It's a warning that going through the motions of faith without sincerity is spiritually dangerous.
Ayah 7
وَيَمْنَعُونَ ٱلْمَاعُونَ
And withhold [simple] assistance.
The surah ends with a mic-drop. "Al-Ma'un" refers to the smallest everyday kindnesses — lending a neighbor a pot, sharing basic items, or even just a kind word. These people are so spiritually empty they won't share things that cost them almost nothing. The whole surah comes full circle: denying accountability leads to cruelty, fake worship leads to selfishness, and your faith is ultimately measured not just by your prayers but by your basic human decency.