The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 557
PT. 30 AL-MĀ'ŪN CH. 107 4. And urges not the feeding of the poor. " 5. So a pray, 4851 woe to those who 6. But are unmindful of their Prayer. 4852 7. They like only to be seen of men, 4853 b 8. And withhold legal alms. 4854 ۳۲ وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُوْنَ ) الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ ) وَيَمْنَعُوْنَ الْمَاعُونَ "69:35; 74:45; 89:19. 4:143. 4:54. section of the community of all initiative and the will to improve their lot. These two verses represent one of the two basic principles of Islam i. e. . (شفقة على خلق الله) service of humanity 4851. Commentary: Prayer represents the duties and obligations we owe to God. They are called (obligations due to God) in religious terminology. The verse purports to say that the prayers of those hypocritical Pharisees who do not discharge the obligations they owe to God's creatures are a body without soul, a shell without substance. All their actions are hypocritical which, instead of doing them any good, add to their hypocrisy and insincerity. 4852. Commentary: The (worshippers) of the preceding verse have been condemned here as unmindful of their Prayers, since their Prayers fail to bring about in them moral change which Prayers are intended to create and develop. 4853. Commentary: The hypocritical Pharisees make only a show of soulless acts of goodness and charity. 4854. Important Words: معن (legal alms) is derived from and means, rainwater; small household articles of common use such as axe, cooking pot, etc; good; an act of kindness, any useful thing; obedience; Zakāh (Aqrab). 3453