Surah 107. Al-Ma'un

HAST THOU ever considered [the kind of man] who gives the lie to all moral law?¹

  - Mohammad Asad

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".

Have you seen the one who denies the Day of Judgment?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Have you seen the one who denies the 'final' Judgment?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Hast thou observed him who belieth religion?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Seest thou one who denies the Judgment (to come)? ⁶²⁸¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Din may mean either (1) the Judgment 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.

Behold, it is this [kind of man] that thrusts the orphan away,

  - Mohammad Asad

He it is who drives away the orphan with harshness

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That is the one who repulses the orphan,

  - Mustafa Khattab

That is he who repelleth the orphan,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then such is the (man) who repulses the orphan (with harshness)

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and feels no urge² to feed the needy.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "does not urge", i.e., himself.

and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And urgeth not the feeding of the needy.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And encourages not the feeding of the indigent. ⁶²⁸²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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.

Woe, then, unto those praying ones

  - Mohammad Asad

So woe to those who offer Salah (prayers),

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So woe to those 'hypocrites' who pray

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ah, woe unto worshippers

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

So woe to the worshippers

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

whose hearts from their prayer are remote -³

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "who are [knowingly] unmindful of their prayers".

but are neglectful of their Salah (offer Prayers but disregard the very purpose of establishing Salah - to have the fear of Allah and be mindful to the needs of other people);

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

yet are unmindful of their prayers;

  - Mustafa Khattab

Who are heedless of their prayer;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Who are neglectful of their Prayers ⁶²⁸³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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.

those who want only to be seen and praised,

  - Mohammad Asad

those who make a show of piety

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

those who 'only' show off,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Who would be seen (at worship)

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who (want but) to be seen (of men) ⁶²⁸⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. iv. 142: "When they stand up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance."

and, withal, deny all assistance [to their fellowmen]!⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

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.

and refuse to share the necessities of life.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and refuse to give 'even the simplest' aid.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 They refuse to help others with small things like salt or water, let alone alms-tax.

Yet refuse small kindnesses!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But refuse (to supply) (Even) neighborly needs. ⁶²⁸⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Hypocrites make a great show of hollow acts of goodness, devotion, and charity. 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.