Surat Al-Mā`ūn (The Small Kindnesses)
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There is a difference of opinion relating to this Surah's place of revelation. Ibn Marduyah has cited Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah bless them both) as saying that this Surah is Makki, and the same also is the view of Ata and Jabir. But Abu Hayyan in Al-Bahr Al-Muhit, has cited Ibn 'Abbas, Qatadah and Dahhak as saying that this Surah was revealed at Madinah. There is also a piece of evidence in the Surah itself, which points to its being a Madani revelation. It states a threat of destruction to those who offer the Salah (prayers) but are unmindful of their Salah since they want only to be seen offering the prayers. These kind of hypocrites were only at Madinah. Allah knows best. Since most the ulema have written this Surah as Makki Sürah, therefore, we tabulate as such.
Major Issues, Divine Laws and Guidance:
• Disbelief in the Hereafter is the main cause of moral decay.
• God consciousness, social welfare and caring about other people's necessities of life are the main purposes of Salah (prayers).
The theme of this Surah is to point out what kind of morals a man develops when he refuses to believe in the Hereafter. In vv 2-3 the condition of the disbelievers, who openly deny the Hereafter, is described. In the last four verses, the state of those hypocrites who apparently are Muslims but do not believe in the Hereafter, the Day of Judgement, reward and the punishment, has been described. The objective of depicting the attitude and conduct of two kinds of people is to stress the point that man cannot develop a strong, stable and pure character in himself unless he believes in the Hereafter.
Those people who offer Salah (prayers), but do not practice good behavior with other believers and neighbors, and do not provide a helping hand when they are needed to do so, have not understood the very reason for which congregational Salah (prayers) are made obligatory. Therefore, it is pointed out that their prayers are nothing but a show and are not acceptable to Allah and such people may very well end up in the hellfire.
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Sincere and pious people are always ready and eager to help others. True religion encourages its followers to provide support for the weak, sustenance for the poor, provisions for the orphan, and guidance for those who have lost their direction in life.
Neglect of these virtues has given credence to godless and mate- rialistic ideologies such as communism which swept across nearly half of the world, wreaking havoc upon millions everywhere.
Had believers, not least the Muslims themselves, upheld their faith and observed their religious beliefs, humanity might well have been spared many catastrophes.
Religion, as the surah implies, means charity, tolerance and com- passion. It says: “Have you considered him who rejects faith? It is he who turns away the orphan and has no urge to feed the poor” (1–3). This brief surah is a denunciation of religious bigotry, stressing that helping the needy is as fundamental an aspect of faith as obser-
ving the prayers. It warns the negligent of frightful consequences.