Surah Al-Ma'un & Al-Ma'arij — Tadabur Guide

الدِّين Al-Din Al-Ma'un 1 — "Have you seen the one who denies the Judgment?"

Light Definition

الجزاء والحساب يوم القيامة The Judgment, recompense, and accountability on the Day of Resurrection

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[دين]
الدِّينُ يقال للطاعة والجزاء. قال تعالى: مالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ [الفاتحة/ ٤]، أي: يوم الجزاء. وقال: أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ [الماعون/ ١].

ويُطلق الدين على الملّة والشريعة. قال: إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلامُ [آل عمران/ ١٩]. فالدين في سورة الماعون بمعنى الجزاء والحساب.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: d-y-n]

Al-din is used for obedience and recompense. Allah says: "Master of the Day of Din (Judgment)" [Al-Fatihah/4], meaning the day of recompense. And: "Have you seen the one who denies the Din?" [Al-Ma'un/1].

Din is also used for religion and sacred law. He says: "Indeed, the din with Allah is Islam" [Al 'Imran/19]. In Surah Al-Ma'un, din means judgment and accountability.

يَدُعُّ Yadu''u Al-Ma'un 2 — "That is the one who drives away the orphan."

Light Definition

يدفعه بعنف وقسوة To push away harshly and with force

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[دعع]
الدَّعُّ: الدفع بشدّة وعنف. قال تعالى: فَذلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ [الماعون/ ٢]، أي: يدفعه بعنف وغلظة ويُزجره ويقهره.

وقال: يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلى نارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا [الطور/ ١٣]، أي: يُدفعون إليها دفعًا عنيفًا.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: d-'-']

Al-da'' means to push with severity and violence. Allah says: "That is the one who yadu''u (drives away) the orphan" [Al-Ma'un/2], meaning he pushes the orphan away harshly, rebukes, and oppresses him.

He also says: "The Day they will be thrust (yuda''una) toward the Fire of Hell with a violent thrust" [Al-Tur/13], meaning they will be pushed into it forcefully.

سَاهُونَ Sahun Al-Ma'un 5 — "Who are heedless of their prayer."

Light Definition

الغافلون عن صلاتهم، لا يبالون بها Heedless and neglectful of their prayer; they do not care about it

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[سهو]
السَّهْوُ: الغفلة عن الشيء. وقال تعالى: الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاتِهِمْ ساهُونَ [الماعون/ ٥]. قال عليه السلام: «ذلك المنافق، يجلس يرقب صلاة العصر، حتى إذا كانت بين قرني الشيطان قام فنقرها أربعًا، لا يذكر الله فيها إلا قليلاً».

والفرق بين «عن صلاتهم» و«في صلاتهم»: أنّ السهو عن الصلاة هو تركها أو تأخيرها عن وقتها تهاونًا، أمّا السهو في الصلاة فيقع لكلّ مصلٍّ ولا يُؤاخَذ عليه.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: s-h-w]

Al-sahw means heedlessness and neglect. Allah says: "Those who are sahun (heedless) of their prayer" [Al-Ma'un/5]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "That is the hypocrite who sits watching the Asr prayer until, when it is between the two horns of Shaytan, he stands and pecks four units, barely remembering Allah in it."

The difference between "of their prayer" and "in their prayer": being heedless of prayer means abandoning it or delaying it out of carelessness, whereas being heedless in prayer (momentary distraction) happens to every worshipper and is not blameworthy.

📝 Allah said "عن صلاتهم" (of their prayer) not "في صلاتهم" (in their prayer). This distinction is critical: occasional distraction during prayer is human, but being completely heedless of prayer itself is the trait condemned here.

يُرَاءُونَ Yura'un Al-Ma'un 6 — "Who make show of their deeds."

Light Definition

يعملون أعمالهم ليراها الناس، لا لله They perform deeds to be seen by people, not for Allah

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[رأي]
الرِّياءُ: إظهار العمل للناس ليُحمَد عليه، لا ابتغاء وجه الله. قال تعالى: الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُراؤُنَ [الماعون/ ٦]، وقال: لا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذى كَالَّذِي يُنْفِقُ مالَهُ رِئاءَ النَّاسِ [البقرة/ ٢٦٤].

والرياء من الشرك الأصغر. قال عليه السلام: «أخوف ما أخاف عليكم الشرك الأصغر: الرياء».

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: r-'-y]

Al-riya' is displaying one's deeds to people to be praised, not seeking the face of Allah. Allah says: "Those who yura'un (make show of their deeds)" [Al-Ma'un/6], and: "Do not invalidate your charities with reminders and harm, like the one who spends his wealth ri'a'a al-nas (to be seen by people)" [Al-Baqarah/264].

Riya' is from the minor shirk. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "What I fear most for you is the minor shirk: showing off (al-riya')."

الْمَاعُون Al-Ma'un Al-Ma'un 7 — "And withhold simple assistance."

Light Definition

المنفعة الصغيرة التي يتعاون بها الناس Small acts of kindness and everyday items people share

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[معن]
المَاعُونُ: ما يتعاون به الناس بينهم من الأشياء الصغيرة كالقِدْر والفأس والدلو والملح والماء والنار. قال تعالى: وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْماعُونَ [الماعون/ ٧].

وقيل: الماعون هو الزكاة. وقيل: كلّ ما فيه منفعة. والأوّل أشهر: أنّه المتاع القليل الذي يتعاون به الجيران.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: m-'-n]

Al-ma'un refers to the small items that people lend to each other: a pot, an axe, a bucket, salt, water, fire. Allah says: "And they withhold al-ma'un (simple assistance)" [Al-Ma'un/7].

Some say al-ma'un is zakat. Others say it is anything beneficial. The most well-known interpretation is that it refers to small everyday items that neighbours share with each other.

الْمَعَارِج Al-Ma'arij Al-Ma'arij 3 — "From Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent."

Light Definition

الدرجات والمصاعد التي تصعد فيها الملائكة The stairways, degrees, and pathways of ascent for the angels

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[عرج]
العُرُوجُ: الصعود. قال تعالى: تَعْرُجُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ [المعارج/ ٤]. والمَعَارِجُ: جمع مِعْرَج، وهي المصاعد والدرجات.

قال تعالى: مِنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعارِجِ [المعارج/ ٣]. وقيل: ذي الفواضل العالية والنعم المترقّية. ومنه المِعْراج: ما عُرِج فيه بالنبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى السماء.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: '-r-j]

Al-'uruj means to ascend. Allah says: "The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him" [Al-Ma'arij/4]. Al-ma'arij is the plural of mi'raj: stairways, degrees, and pathways of ascent.

Allah says: "From Allah, Lord of the Ma'arij (Ways of Ascent)" [Al-Ma'arij/3]. It is also said to mean: possessor of lofty favours and rising blessings. From this root comes al-Mi'raj: the means by which the Prophet (peace be upon him) ascended to the heavens.

صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا Sabran Jamila Al-Ma'arij 5 — "So be patient with gracious patience."

Light Definition

صبر لا شكوى فيه ولا جزع Beautiful patience with no complaint and no despair

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[صبر]
الصَّبْرُ: حبس النفس عن الجزع. قال تعالى: فَاصْبِرْ صَبْراً جَمِيلاً [المعارج/ ٥]. والصبر الجميل: الذي لا شكوى فيه إلى الخلق.

قال يعقوب عليه السلام: فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعانُ [يوسف/ ١٨]. فالجمال في الصبر هو الرضا بقضاء الله وعدم إظهار الشكوى للمخلوقين.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: s-b-r]

Al-sabr means restraining the soul from panic. Allah says: "So be patient with sabran jamila (gracious patience)" [Al-Ma'arij/5]. Gracious patience is that which contains no complaint to creation.

Ya'qub (peace be upon him) said: "So gracious patience, and Allah is the one sought for help" [Yusuf/18]. The beauty in patience is being content with Allah's decree and not displaying one's complaint to people.

هَلُوعًا Halu'a Al-Ma'arij 19 — "Indeed, mankind was created anxious."

Light Definition

شديد الحرص والجزع، سريع التأثّر Intensely anxious, impatient, and easily agitated

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[هلع]
الهَلَعُ: أشدّ الجزع وأفحشه. والهَلُوعُ: الذي لا يصبر على خير ولا شرّ. قال تعالى: إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعاً. إِذا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوعاً. وَإِذا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ مَنُوعاً [المعارج/ ١٩-٢١].

فالهلوع فسّره الله بصفتين: الجزوع عند الشرّ والمنوع عند الخير. وهذه طبيعة الإنسان إلا من استثناه الله بالإيمان والصلاة.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: h-l-']

Al-hala' is the most extreme and excessive form of panic. Al-halu' is one who cannot bear good or bad with patience. Allah says: "Indeed, mankind was created halu'a (anxious). When evil touches him, jazu'a (impatient). And when good touches him, manu'a (withholding)" [Al-Ma'arij/19-21].

Allah Himself defined halu' with two traits: extreme impatience in hardship and extreme stinginess in comfort. This is human nature, except for those whom Allah exempted through faith and prayer.

📝 This is one of the most remarkable passages in the Qur'an about human psychology. Allah diagnoses the default human condition (halu'), then prescribes the cure: prayer, charity, belief in the Last Day, and guarding one's trusts (ayahs 22-34).

جَزُوعًا Jazu'a Al-Ma'arij 20 — "When evil touches him, impatient."

Light Definition

شديد الجزع، لا يصبر على المصيبة Deeply impatient; unable to endure affliction

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[جزع]
الجَزَعُ: ضدّ الصبر. وهو إظهار ما يلحق من المصيبة من الحزن والأسى. قال تعالى: إِذا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوعاً [المعارج/ ٢٠]. والجَزُوع: المبالغ في الجزع.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: j-z-']

Al-jaza' is the opposite of patience. It is the outward display of grief and sorrow caused by affliction. Allah says: "When evil touches him, jazu'a (deeply impatient)" [Al-Ma'arij/20]. Al-jazu' is one who is excessive in impatience and panic.

مَنُوعًا Manu'a Al-Ma'arij 21 — "And when good touches him, withholding of it."

Light Definition

كثير المنع، يمسك الخير عن الناس Withholding; one who refuses to share good with others

Al-Raghib — Arabic

[منع]
المَنْعُ: خلاف الإعطاء. والمَنُوعُ: الشديد في المنع. قال تعالى: وَإِذا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ مَنُوعاً [المعارج/ ٢١]، أي: إذا أصابه الخير والغنى بخل به ومنعه عن المستحقّين.

وقال: وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْماعُونَ [الماعون/ ٧]. فالمنوع والمانع للماعون يشتركان في صفة البخل وحبّ الإمساك.

Al-Raghib — English

[Root: m-n-']

Al-man' is the opposite of giving. Al-manu' is one who is extreme in withholding. Allah says: "And when good touches him, manu'a (withholding)" [Al-Ma'arij/21], meaning when wealth and comfort come to him, he hoards it and withholds it from those who deserve it.

He also says: "And they withhold al-ma'un" [Al-Ma'un/7]. The manu' and the one who withholds ma'un share the trait of stinginess and love of hoarding.

📝 Notice the beautiful connection between the two Surahs: Al-Ma'un condemns withholding small kindnesses, and Al-Ma'arij describes the manu' as a fundamental human flaw. The cure in both cases is faith, prayer, and generosity.