أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ
HAST THOU ever considered [the kind of man] who gives the lie to all moral law? (1)
فَذَٰلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ
Behold, it is this [kind of man] that thrusts the orphan away, (2)
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
and feels no urge to feed the needy. (3)
فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ
Woe, then, unto those praying ones (4)
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ
whose hearts from their prayer are remote – (5)
الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ
those who want only to be seen and praised, (6)
وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ
and, withal, deny all assistance [to their fellowmen]! (7)
- and, withal, deny all assistance [to their fellow-men]!4
- 4 The term al-ma'un comprises the many small items needed for one's daily use, as well as the occasional acts of kindness consisting in helping out one's fellow-men with such items. In its wider sense, it denotes "aid" or "assistance" in any difficulty.
- But refuse (to supply) (even) neighbourly needs.6285
- 6285 Hypocrites make a great show of hollow acts of goodness, devotion, and charily. But they fail signally if you test them by little acts of neighbourly help or charity, the thousand little courtesies and kindnesses of daily life, the supply of needs which cost little but mean much.
-
But refuse (to supply) (even) neighbourly needs.
— Abdullah Yusuf Ali -
Yet refuse small kindnesses!
— Marmaduke Pickthall -
And withhold the necessaries of life.
— M. Habib Shakir -
And refuse Al-Ma'un (small kindnesses e.g. salt, sugar, water, etc.).
— Taqiuddin Hilali and M. Mohsin Khan -
And who withholds even common necessaries.
— Abdul-Majid Daryabadi -
and prevent the utensils of assistance.
— Hasan Qaribullah and Ahmed Darwish -
and refuse household stuff.
— Ayub Khan -
And withhold legal alms.
— Sher Ali -
and, withal, deny all assistance [to their fellowmen]!
— Muhammad Asad -
and refuse charity.
— Arthur Arberry -
and deny people the articles of common necessity.{{11}}
— Abu'l Ala Maududi