Table Of Contents

Meet the Key Figures in Surah Maun: Roles, Significance & Takeaways

This Character Compendium offers a definitive resource on the key archetypes and powerful symbols within Surah Al-Ma’un, the 107th chapter of the Holy Qur’an. A powerful and concise chapter, its name, “The Small Kindnesses,” refers to the simple acts of charity that are a sign of true faith. The Surah provides a profound diagnosis of the link between genuine belief and social compassion. It masterfully defines the one who truly “denies the Recompense” not by their theological arguments, but by their practical, cruel actions: their harsh treatment of the orphan and their indifference to the plight of the poor. The chapter then extends this warning to a specific type of worshipper, one whose prayer is a heedless and hypocritical performance, completely disconnected from the sincerity that should lead to basic human kindness. Each character card delves into the specific portrayal of these archetypal behaviors, extracting the timeless lessons on the true, integrated nature of faith and action.

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Ad-Din (The Recompense)

Brief Biography / Background

Ad-Din, in this context, refers to the Recompense, the final Judgment, and the entire system of accountability in the Hereafter. It is the core belief that gives meaning and consequence to all of our worldly actions.

Role in the Surah

The Recompense is the central theological concept that is being denied. The entire Surah is a commentary on the true, practical signs of one who denies this reality. The chapter opens with a powerful question: “Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?” (Al-Ma’un, 107:1). The verses that follow are the answer, defining this denier not by their words, but by their deeds.

Personality & Attributes

The Recompense is the archetype of **ultimate justice and accountability**. It is the great, unseen reality that gives a moral compass to human life. Belief in it is the foundation of piety, and denial of it is the foundation of all the cruelty and hypocrisy described in the Surah.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A person’s true belief or denial of the Day of Judgment is not just a matter of verbal claim, but is demonstrated through their character and their actions.
• A believer must have a firm and deeply-rooted conviction in the reality of the Recompense, as this is the primary motivation for all good deeds.
• The entire moral framework of Islam is built upon the foundation of this final accountability.

Supporting References

The Surah presents a profound and practical definition of what it means to “deny the Recompense.” It is not just an intellectual position; it is a spiritual disease that manifests as a cold, hard heart, a heart that is incapable of feeling compassion for the orphan or the poor. The denial of the Hereafter is the root cause of the death of empathy.

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Allah (The One God)

Brief Biography / Background

Allah is the proper name for the One,
True God, the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all existence. In this Surah, He is the ultimate, all-seeing Judge who condemns the actions of the denier and the hypocritical worshipper.

Role in the Surah

Allah is the ultimate authority and the one whose judgment is being denied. He is the one for whose sake the prayer is meant to be, but whom the hypocrite ignores in favor of “being seen” by people. He is the ultimate provider whose blessing of “small kindnesses” the miser withholds. He is the one who declares “Woe” upon the heedless worshippers.

Personality & Attributes

This Surah magnificently illustrates Allah’s attributes:

• Al-Hakam al-‘Adl (The Just Judge): He is the one who presides over the “Recompense.”
• Al-Basir (The All-Seeing): He is the witness to the outward show of the hypocrite and the inner reality of their heedlessness.
• Al-Karim (The Most Generous): He is the source of all the “Ma’un” (small kindnesses) that the miser withholds.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must have a profound sense of awe for the justice of Allah and a healthy fear of His punishment.
• All acts of worship must be done with the sincere intention of pleasing Allah alone, not for the praise of created beings.
• The Surah is a powerful reminder to prepare for the Day when we will stand before the ultimate Judge.

Supporting References

The Surah is a powerful lesson in the interconnectedness of our duties. The one who truly believes in the Day of Recompense will fulfill their duties to the creation (the orphan and the poor) and will be sincere in their duties to the Creator (the prayer). The one who denies the Recompense fails on both counts. This shows the holistic and integrated nature of the faith that is required by Allah.

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Al-Ma’un (The Small Kindnesses)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Ma’un is a comprehensive term for small, everyday acts of kindness and charity. It refers to the small, common household items that a good neighbor would lend to another (such as a pot, an axe, or a bit of salt), and by extension, any small act of assistance or charity. It is the namesake of the Surah.

Role in the Surah

The withholding of these Small Kindnesses is the final and culminating sin of the heedless worshipper. Their hypocrisy is so profound that it manifests not only in their showing off, but in their inability to perform even the smallest and most basic of charitable acts. “…and withhold small kindnesses.” (Al-Ma’un, 107:7).

Personality & Attributes

The Small Kindnesses are the archetype of **basic human decency and simple, everyday charity**. They are a symbol of a living and compassionate heart. They are the small gears of a healthy and cooperative society. To withhold them is a sign of extreme miserliness and a heart that is completely devoid of mercy.

Major Lessons & Morals

• True faith must manifest itself in practical acts of kindness, even small ones.
• A person’s character is often revealed not in grand gestures, but in their willingness to help with the small, everyday needs of their neighbors.
• To be so miserly as to withhold even the smallest of items is a sign of a deeply diseased heart and a characteristic of the heedless hypocrite.

Supporting References

This verse is a powerful conclusion to the Surah. It shows that the disease of heedlessness and showing off in prayer leads to a complete breakdown of social compassion, down to the most basic level. The one whose prayer is not sincere to God will not be sincere in their kindness to God’s creation. The two are inextricably linked.

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Al-Miskin (The Needy)

Brief Biography / Background

The Miskin, the needy or the poor, is the archetype of the person who does not have enough to meet their basic needs. They are among the most vulnerable members of society, and caring for them is a central duty in Islam.

Role in the Surah

The Needy are the ones who are wronged by the one who denies the Recompense. The denier’s lack of faith is demonstrated by the fact that he does not even encourage others to feed them. “And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.” (Al-Ma’un, 107:3).

Personality & Attributes

The Needy are the archetype of the **vulnerable and the deserving recipient of compassion**. They represent the right that the poor have upon the wealth of the rich. Their presence in society is a test of the compassion and the sincerity of the entire community.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Caring for the poor is a fundamental duty of a believer and a key sign of true faith.
• A believer’s duty is not just to feed the poor themselves, but to actively encourage and urge others to do so as well, creating a culture of social responsibility.
• Indifference to the plight of the poor is a defining characteristic of the one who truly denies the Day of Judgment.

Supporting References

This verse sets a high standard for social responsibility. It is not enough to simply not harm the poor. The one who is truly righteous is the one who is an active advocate for them, who “urges” and “encourages” a societal response to poverty. To be a passive bystander in the face of hunger is a sign of a dead heart and a denial of the Recompense.

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Al-Yatim (The Orphan)

Brief Biography / Background

The Yatim, or orphan, is a child who has lost their father. In the tribal society of Arabia, this meant the loss of one’s primary source of protection, provision, and social standing, making the orphan among the most vulnerable members of the community.

Role in the Surah

The Orphan is the one who is the victim of the cruelty of the one who denies the Recompense. The first and primary practical sign of the denier is their harsh treatment of the orphan. He is the one that **”repulses the orphan.”** (Al-Ma’un, 107:2).

Personality & Attributes

The Orphan is the archetype of the **vulnerable and the wronged**. They represent the one who is most deserving of mercy and protection. Their treatment is the ultimate litmus test of a person’s compassion and their true faith.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Honoring and caring for the orphan is a defining characteristic of a true believer.
• The act of repelling, oppressing, or dealing harshly with an orphan is a grave sin and a clear sign of one who denies the Day of Judgment.
• A believer’s faith must translate into practical compassion for the most vulnerable members of society.

Supporting References

The word used, “yadu”u,” means to push away harshly, to repel with cruelty. It is a powerful and violent word. The Surah is teaching that the one who can perform such a cruel act to the most helpless of all beings has demonstrated that they have no fear of the final accountability. Their action is a direct proof of their inner state of disbelief.

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The Believer (Al-Mu’min)

Brief Biography / Background

The Believer is the one who has sincere faith in Allah and lives a life of righteousness. In this Surah, the believer is the implicit positive contrast to the two corrupt characters who are condemned.

Role in the Surah

The believer’s role is to be the opposite of the characters described. They are the one who *affirms* the Day of Recompense. Because of this affirmation, they *honor* the orphan and *urge* the feeding of the poor. They are the one whose prayer is sincere and conscious, not heedless. Their prayer leads them to be *more* compassionate and to be generous with even the smallest of kindnesses.

Personality & Attributes

The Believer is the archetype of the **righteous, the sincere, and the compassionate**. They are characterized by a perfect harmony between their inner creed and their outward actions. Their belief in the Hereafter directly translates into social compassion, and their sincere prayer reinforces this compassionate character.

Major Lessons & Morals

• True faith is a holistic state that combines correct belief, sincere worship, and compassionate action.
• A believer’s prayer should be a source of moral and ethical transformation, making them a better and kinder person.
• The path of belief is the only path that leads to salvation from the “Woe” that is promised to the heedless.

Supporting References

The entire Surah is a powerful, indirect call to be this character. By providing a detailed and damning portrait of the two types of failed individuals, the Surah is implicitly laying out the blueprint for the successful individual. The believer is the one who does not do any of these things, and is therefore the one who is saved by the mercy of their Lord.

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The Denier of the Recompense

Brief Biography / Background

The Denier of the Recompense is the first of the two great archetypes of moral failure described in this Surah. This is the person whose disbelief in the Day of Judgment manifests not in philosophical arguments, but in a cruel and callous social behavior.

Role in the Surah

This character is the subject of the opening question and the first half of the Surah. The chapter asks the Prophet ﷺ to “see” this person, and then defines him by two concrete actions: “That is the one who repulses the orphan and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.” (Al-Ma’un, 107:2-3).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **a hard heart, a complete lack of empathy, and profound social irresponsibility**. Their denial of the Hereafter has completely severed their connection to their fellow human beings. They have no fear of accountability, and therefore, they feel no compulsion to be merciful.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A person’s true belief or denial of the Day of Judgment is not just a matter of verbal claim, but is demonstrated through their character and their actions, especially towards the vulnerable.
• A denial of the Hereafter leads directly to a death of social compassion.
• A believer must prove their faith in the Last Day by being a source of mercy and support for the orphan and the poor.

Supporting References

This Surah provides a profound and practical definition of what it means to “deny the Recompense.” It is not just an intellectual position; it is a spiritual disease that manifests as a cold, hard heart, a heart that is incapable of feeling compassion for the orphan or the poor. The denial of the Hereafter is the root cause of the death of empathy.

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The Heedless Worshipper

Brief Biography / Background

The Heedless Worshipper is the second of the two great archetypes of moral failure described in this Surah. This is the person who performs the outward ritual of prayer but is completely disconnected from its spirit and its purpose. Their worship is an empty, mechanical act, and is often a form of hypocrisy.

Role in the Surah

This character is the subject of the second great “Woe” of the Surah. After condemning the one who denies the Recompense through their social cruelty, the Surah says: “So woe to those who pray, [but] who are heedless of their prayer.” (Al-Ma’un, 107:4-5).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **heedlessness (sahun), hypocrisy, and a lack of sincerity**. Their prayer is a hollow shell. They are not truly worshipping God; they are merely going through the motions. The Surah then explains the two primary symptoms of this heedless prayer: they do it “to be seen” and they “withhold small kindnesses.”

Major Lessons & Morals

• The mere physical act of prayer is not enough for salvation. The prayer must be performed with sincerity and consciousness.
• True prayer should have a transformative effect on a person’s character, making them more compassionate and generous.
• A believer must constantly be on guard against the disease of heedlessness in their own worship, ensuring that their prayer is a true and heartfelt connection with their Lord.

Supporting References

Tafsir literature explains that being “heedless of their prayer” can mean a number of things: delaying the prayer past its proper time without a valid excuse, not performing its pillars and conditions correctly, or, most importantly, being completely distracted and unmindful during the prayer itself, with a heart that is completely disconnected from the words being uttered by the tongue. It is a prayer of the body, not of the soul.

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The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

Brief Biography / Background

While not mentioned by name, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the one to whom this Surah is addressed. He is the one who is being asked the opening question and who is being taught the true signs of disbelief and hypocrisy.

Role in the Surah

His role is that of the bearer of the message and the ultimate warner. The Surah opens with a direct address to him: “Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?” (107:1). The entire Surah is a divine communication to him, providing him with a profound and concise criterion for judging the true state of a person’s faith. He is the one who must convey this warning to his community.

Personality & Attributes

As the addressee of the Surah, the Prophet ﷺ is the archetype of the **divinely-taught guide and the perfect role model**. He is the one who embodied the true spirit of the prayer and whose entire life was a testament to compassion for the orphan and the poor. The Surah’s message is a direct reflection of his own perfect character.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The message of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the absolute and unalterable truth from Allah.
• A believer must have complete confidence in the revelation he brought.
• The Prophet’s own life is the ultimate practical commentary on this Surah; his deep and sincere prayer was the very source of his boundless compassion.

Supporting References

The Surah is a powerful tool for his mission. It gives him the divine insight to look beyond the superficial claims of people and to judge their faith by the fruits it produces in their character. It is a call to a faith that is real, practical, and socially transformative.

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The Repeller of the Orphan

Brief Biography / Background

The Repeller of the Orphan is the archetype of the person whose heart is so hard that they respond to the most vulnerable member of society not with mercy, but with harshness and cruelty. The orphan (*yatim*) is a symbol of ultimate vulnerability.

Role in the Surah

This character’s action is the first and primary practical sign of one who “denies the Recompense.” The Surah asks, “Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?” and then immediately answers: “That is the one who repulses the orphan.” (Al-Ma’un, 107:2).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **cruelty, a lack of empathy, and a hard heart**. The word used, “yadu”u,” means to push away harshly, to repel with cruelty. It is a powerful and violent word. This action is a direct manifestation of a heart that has no fear of God and no belief in a final accountability.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The way a person treats the most vulnerable is a direct and undeniable indicator of their true state of faith.
• Cruelty towards the orphan is not just a social failing, but is a sign of fundamental disbelief in the Day of Judgment.
• A believer must be the opposite: one who honors, protects, and shows immense compassion to the orphan.

Supporting References

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself was an orphan, which gives this command a special and profound resonance. Islam came to completely revolutionize the treatment of orphans in a society that often exploited them. This verse establishes the protection of the orphan not just as a recommended charity, but as a core and defining test of one’s entire creed.

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The Show-Off (Al-Mura’i)

Brief Biography / Background

The Show-Off (Al-Mura’i) is the archetype of the person who performs acts of worship not for the sake of Allah, but for the sake of being seen and praised by other people. Their worship is a performance, an act of hypocrisy (*riya’*).

Role in the Surah

This is the first of the two defining characteristics of the “heedless worshipper.” Their prayer is empty because its motivation is corrupt. “So woe to those who pray… who are for show.” (Al-Ma’un, 107:4, 6).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **hypocrisy, insincerity, and a lack of true devotion**. They are the ultimate people-pleasers. Their concern is with the opinion of the creation, not the pleasure of the Creator. Their worship is an empty and worthless facade.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Sincerity (ikhlas) is the absolute and non-negotiable condition for the acceptance of any act of worship.
• A believer must constantly be on guard against the disease of *riya’* (showing off) and must purify their intentions for Allah alone.
• To pray for the sake of being seen by others is a grave sin that earns the “woe” of Allah.

Supporting References

*Riya’* is described in the hadith as “the minor shirk,” a hidden form of polytheism. It is the act of associating partners with Allah in one’s intention, by seeking the praise of others alongside the praise of God. This Surah is a powerful warning against this subtle but devastating spiritual disease.

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The Withholder of Small Kindnesses

Brief Biography / Background

The Withholder of Small Kindnesses is the archetype of the person whose heart has become so hard and miserly that they are unwilling to perform even the smallest and most basic of charitable acts. They are the ones who refuse to lend a simple household item to a neighbor in need.

Role in the Surah

This is the final and culminating sin of the heedless worshipper. Their hypocrisy is so profound that it manifests not only in their showing off, but in their inability to perform even the smallest and most basic of charitable acts. “…and [they] withhold small kindnesses (al-ma’un).” (Al-Ma’un, 107:7).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **extreme miserliness and a complete lack of social compassion**. They are the epitome of the stingy and unhelpful neighbor. Their inability to perform a simple act of kindness is a sign of a heart that has been completely sealed by heedlessness and hypocrisy.

Major Lessons & Morals

• True faith must manifest itself in practical acts of kindness, even small ones.
• A person’s character is often revealed not in grand gestures, but in their willingness to help with the small, everyday needs of their neighbors.
• To be so miserly as to withhold even the smallest of items is a sign of a deeply diseased heart and a characteristic of the heedless hypocrite.

Supporting References

This verse is a powerful conclusion to the Surah. It shows that the disease of heedlessness and showing off in prayer leads to a complete breakdown of social compassion, down to the most basic level. The one whose prayer is not sincere to God will not be sincere in their kindness to God’s creation. The two are inextricably linked.