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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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"The Subtle Commentary on the Identification Cards

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of the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an"

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by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif,

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may Allah protect him.

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Surah al-Ma'un.

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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,

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and peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers,

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and upon his family and all of his Companions.

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We continue with the gentle commentary on the identification cards,

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and we have reached Surah al-Ma'un.

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I have three reflections on it.

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The first reflection

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is that the surah brings together two groups:

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a group that denies the Day of Recompense,

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and a hypocritical, ostentatious group.

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So, what is the common thread between the two groups?

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It is the malice of the inner self.

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For the one who denies the Day of Judgment

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has a corrupt, vile inner self,

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which leads to vile actions.

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Likewise, the one who shows off

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has a corrupt inner self,

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even though some of his outward deeds

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may appear good.

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However, there is no value to that outward goodness.

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This reminds me of the hadith

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in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) compared

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the hypocrite

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who recites the Qur'an to a sweet basil plant:

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its scent is pleasant,

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but its taste

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is bitter.

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And we seek refuge with Allah.

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A person might indeed be deceived

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by this outward appearance,

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but what truly matters is what lies within.

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As for

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the hypocrite—or in another narration, the wicked person—

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the wicked person who does not recite the Qur'an,

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his likeness is like that of

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the colocynth:

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it has no scent, and its taste is bitter.

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Thus, the one who denies the Day of Judgment

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is just like the colocynth,

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while the one who shows off in his prayer

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is most like the sweet basil plant.

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Both of them

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have an inner reality that is

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corrupt

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and bitter.

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We ask Allah

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for safety.

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As for the second reflection,

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it is a message to everyone who believes in the Day of Judgment:

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if this

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is the state and condition

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of the one who denies the Day of Judgment,

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then how ought you

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to be, O believer in the Day of Judgment?

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You believe in the Day of Recompense,

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so prove it through your deeds,

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and let that creed

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have an impact on your life.

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Stay completely away

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from the traits that

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are the direct fruits

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of denying the Day of Judgment.

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As for the third reflection,

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it pertains to the word *al-ma'un*,

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which

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is the name of the surah.

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It is a comprehensive

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word.

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For this reason,

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some scholars who synthesized the various exegetical views—

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since there are multiple interpretations of this verse,

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which are of the nature of

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complementary

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diversity—

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said that the root meaning of *al-ma'un*

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is the utility and benefit derived from anything.

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Thus, the meaning is that they withhold from people

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the benefits of what they possess.

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Indeed,

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I can say that the word *al-ma'un*

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reminds us

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of a societal characteristic

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by which you can discern

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their closeness

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to Allah,

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or discern,

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in phrasing

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more suited to the surah,

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their belief or disbelief in the Day of Judgment.

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For if you see them

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assisting one another as much as they can,

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lending what they can,

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and providing any form of benefit,

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then this is a clear sign

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that this

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person—

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indeed, this entire community—

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is upon goodness

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and truly believes in the Day of Recompense.

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But if you see these deeds diminishing

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and withering away,

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then this

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portends grave danger.

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We ask Allah for safety.

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And Allah knows best.

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May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad,

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and upon his family and all of his Companions.

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And all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.