Surah 107. Al-Ma'un

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

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

and feels no urge² to feed the needy.

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

Woe, then, unto those praying ones

whose hearts from their prayer are remote -³

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

those who want only to be seen and praised,

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