Listen to Dr Musharraf Hussain sharing his thoughts and analysis of Surat Al-Ma'un. This is an early Makkan surat that opens with a description of the character of a Qurayshi leader: unwilling to accept Judgement Day and its justice, unkind to the weak, indifferent to the welfare of the needy, and so mean-spirited that he doesn't lend even small tools or utensils to his neighbours. The Qurayshi leader hinted at could be Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Prophet ﷺ, he was also the keeper of the Kaaba, taking care of its maintenance and income. Worship, which is supposed to be from the depths of one's heart, became a show rather than a symbol of the true faith and genuine longing for the Divine. The surat gives a powerful message that a person with such a wretched character can never give even "small kindnesses" (7).
