Surah Al-Ma'un (The Small kindnesses)

About Surah Al-Ma'un

Al-Ma’un, “The Small Kindnesses”, shows how belief and behaviour are tied together. It describes the person who denies the Judgement through his conduct — pushing away the orphan and not encouraging others to feed the poor — and then warns those who pray but are careless about their prayer, pray to be seen, and refuse even small everyday help.

Two portraits

• The denier (107:1–3): a question opens the surah — have you seen the one who denies the recompense? He is the one who harshly repels the orphan and does not urge feeding the needy.
• The careless worshipper (107:4–7): woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer, who only want to be seen, and who withhold al-ma’un.

“Heedless of” their prayer

Commentators point out that the surah criticises those heedless of their prayer, not those who lose focus within it. Early explanations include neglecting it, delaying it until its time has passed, or praying only when others are watching. Ordinary lapses of concentration are not what is meant.

What is al-ma’un?

Many early commentators explained al-ma’un as small household items neighbours normally lend each other — a pot, a bucket, an axe. Others understood it as zakah. Either way, the surah ends on how stingy it is to refuse even the smallest help.

Meccan or Medinan?

The dataset used here lists it as Meccan. Some scholars considered it Medinan, and others suggested the first three verses are Meccan and the rest, which describe those who pray for show, Medinan.

Frequently asked questions

What does al-ma'un mean?

Small kindnesses or everyday help, such as lending household items; some commentators explained it as zakah.

How many verses are in Surah Al-Ma'un?

7.

Is Surah Al-Ma'un Meccan or Medinan?

Scholars differ. The dataset used here lists it as Meccan; some say Medinan, and some say it is partly each.

How many ayahs are in Surah Al-Ma'un?

Surah Al-Ma'un has 7 ayahs. It is surah number 107 in the Quran and is Meccan.

Can I read Surah Al-Ma'un in English or save it as a PDF?

Yes. This page shows the Arabic text of every ayah with the Saheeh International English meaning under it. Use “Print / Save as PDF” for a clean printable copy that you can save as a PDF file from your browser.

Is Surah Al-Ma'un the same as Surah Ma'un?

Yes. Ma'un, Maoon and Al-Ma'un are different English spellings of the same surah name, الماعون.

Summaries describe the surah’s content and commonly cited reports for general readers; they are not a tafsir or a religious ruling.