Sūrah Al-Māʿūn Small Kindnesses
سورة الماعون
Al-Ṭabarī investigates Al-Māʿūn's dual-target structure the outright denier who mistreats orphans (107:1–3) and the praying hypocrite who is heedless and lacks small kindnesses (107:4–7) examining whether the surah addresses a single type or two distinct groups, and what "al-māʿūn" specifically means.
Surah Overview
Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī
Al-Ṭabarī first analyses "araʾayta lladhī yukadhdhibu bi-d-dīn" (107:1 have you seen the one who denies the Judgement?) via an Ibn ʿAbbās chain identifying this as the outright Makkī denier who has no theological restraint. This person "yaduʿʿu l-yatīm" (107:2 pushes away the orphan) al-Ṭabarī reads "yudaʿʿu" not merely as verbal refusal but as physical pushing away from the door. He then pivots to the second portrait (107:4–7) the "muṣallīn" (prayers) who are heedless, performing prayer for show, and withholding "al-māʿūn." Al-Ṭabarī reads this as a distinct portrait: a person who externally performs the greatest act of worship (ṣalāh) while internally motivated by showing off (riyāʾ) and externally refuses even the smallest kindness.
On 107:4–5, al-Ṭabarī examines the phrase "alladhīna hum ʿan ṣalātihim sāhūn" those who are heedless of their prayers and records Companion debates about whether this refers to missing the prayer entirely (sāhūn = forgetters) or performing it mindlessly (sāhūn = absentminded while performing). Al-Ṭabarī prefers "heedless of its time, form, and spirit" via the stronger chains the word "ʿan" (away from/about) implies a sustained neglect of the prayer's requirements, not a momentary lapse of focus.
- Two portraits: Al-Ṭabarī reads Al-Māʿūn as containing two distinct condemnations the outright denier (107:1–3) and the hypocritical performer (107:4–7) not a single continuous portrait.
- Yaduʿʿu intensity: Al-Ṭabarī reads the verb "yaduʿʿu" (pushes away) as physical active rejection the denier does not merely fail to help orphans but drives them away.
- Sāhūn definition: "Heedless of their prayers" is defined via al-Ṭabarī's preferred chain as sustained neglect of prayer's time, form, and spirit not momentary loss of concentration.
- Māʿūn breadth: Al-Ṭabarī adopts the broadest meaning all small mutual-assistance items consistent with the root meaning and supported by Mujāhid's comprehensive chain.
- Riyāʾ definition: Prayer performed for "riyāʾ" (showing off) is diagnosed as the structural failure of the hypocrite the most important external act (prayer) is corrupted by the wrong internal motive.