In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
"The Subtle Commentary on the Identification Cards
of the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an"
by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif,
may Allah protect him.
Surah al-Ma'un.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,
and peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers,
and upon his family and all of his Companions.
We continue with the gentle commentary on the identification cards,
and we have reached Surah al-Ma'un.
I have three reflections on it.
The first reflection
is that the surah brings together two groups:
a group that denies the Day of Recompense,
and a hypocritical, ostentatious group.
So, what is the common thread between the two groups?
It is the malice of the inner self.
For the one who denies the Day of Judgment
has a corrupt, vile inner self,
which leads to vile actions.
Likewise, the one who shows off
has a corrupt inner self,
even though some of his outward deeds
may appear good.
However, there is no value to that outward goodness.
This reminds me of the hadith
in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) compared
the hypocrite
who recites the Qur'an to a sweet basil plant:
its scent is pleasant,
but its taste
is bitter.
And we seek refuge with Allah.
A person might indeed be deceived
by this outward appearance,
but what truly matters is what lies within.
As for
the hypocrite—or in another narration, the wicked person—
the wicked person who does not recite the Qur'an,
his likeness is like that of
the colocynth:
it has no scent, and its taste is bitter.
Thus, the one who denies the Day of Judgment
is just like the colocynth,
while the one who shows off in his prayer
is most like the sweet basil plant.
Both of them
have an inner reality that is
corrupt
and bitter.
We ask Allah
for safety.
As for the second reflection,
it is a message to everyone who believes in the Day of Judgment:
if this
is the state and condition
of the one who denies the Day of Judgment,
then how ought you
to be, O believer in the Day of Judgment?
You believe in the Day of Recompense,
so prove it through your deeds,
and let that creed
have an impact on your life.
Stay completely away
from the traits that
are the direct fruits
of denying the Day of Judgment.
As for the third reflection,
it pertains to the word *al-ma'un*,
which
is the name of the surah.
It is a comprehensive
word.
For this reason,
some scholars who synthesized the various exegetical views—
since there are multiple interpretations of this verse,
which are of the nature of
complementary
diversity—
said that the root meaning of *al-ma'un*
is the utility and benefit derived from anything.
Thus, the meaning is that they withhold from people
the benefits of what they possess.
Indeed,
I can say that the word *al-ma'un*
reminds us
of a societal characteristic
by which you can discern
their closeness
to Allah,
or discern,
in phrasing
more suited to the surah,
their belief or disbelief in the Day of Judgment.
For if you see them
assisting one another as much as they can,
lending what they can,
and providing any form of benefit,
then this is a clear sign
that this
person—
indeed, this entire community—
is upon goodness
and truly believes in the Day of Recompense.
But if you see these deeds diminishing
and withering away,
then this
portends grave danger.
We ask Allah for safety.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad,
and upon his family and all of his Companions.
And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.