Explanation of the Maki Surah Quraysh, Mao'on and Kawthar Chapters 106-108

Explanation of the Maki Surah 'Al-Maa'oon' "Simplest Aid"

In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

(1-4) Many of the scholars who have explained this verse have stated that this section of the chapter continues on from the previous chapter. In this case the meaning would be 'We did what We did to the people of the elephant for Quraysh, their safety, their benefit, and so that their winter and summer caravans to Yemen and Syria continue as they are, bearing profit. Allah destroyed those who wished to harm them; He magnified the standing of the Sanctified House and raised the status of its inhabitants in the hearts of the Arabs such that they held those who lived around it in great respect. Moreover, He did not stop them from undertaking any journey they wished.

It is for these reasons that He ordered them to show Him gratitude by saying, "so let them worship the Lord of this House", let them single Him out alone for worship and direct their worship to Him and Him alone. "Who has fed them against hunger and has secured them from fear", being able to eat freely and living in safety are two of the greatest worldly blessings which call for gratitude to Allah, Most High. O Allah! All praise and thanks are Yours for Your blessings, the outer and inner! Allah specifically mentions that He is the Lord of the House because of its nobility and excellence. Whereas in reality, He is the Lord of everything.

Explanation of the Maki Surah 'Al-Maa'oon' "Simplest Aid"

In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful

(1) Allah, the Most High, criticizes those who do not fulfil His rights nor the rights of His slaves by saying "Have you seen the one who denies the religion", by denying the resurrection and the recompense and as such does not believe in what the Messengers came with.

2) "That is the one who repulses the orphan" with coarseness and insolence. He shows him no mercy because of the hardness of his heart and because he does not look to reward, nor fear punishment.

(3) "And does not encourage" others "the feeding of the poor", not to mention him, himself feeding them!

(4-5) "So woe to those hypocrites who pray" they pray but "are unmindful of their prayers" lax in its performance, not praying in its correct time and skipping its pillars. This is because they do not give the commandments of Allah due regard; they wasted the prayer which is the most important act of obedience. Heedlessness of the prayer is what leads to censure and blame. However to have some sort of forgetfulness in the prayer is something that happens to everyone, even the Prophet– may Allah praise and send him peace-.

(6-7) It was to express this fact that Allah describes them as showing off, hard of heart and without mercy: “Those who show off” i.e. they work their deeds by to show off “and refuse to give even the simplest aid” they forbid giving small things that would not harm them at all, essentials such as a cup or bowl or the likes which are habitually given away without the giver feeling any remorse at their loss. These people, because of their intense greed, prevent even these being given let alone larger, more significant things! This chapter encourages the feeding of the poor and the orphan, it encourages the encouragement of this, it stresses the importance of being careful in our prayers, the importance of preserving them, the importance of being sincere in them, and in all other deeds. The chapter also encourages doing good and spending small amounts of wealth in charity because Allah reprimands those who do not do this. Allah, the Perfect One, knows best.

Explanation of the Maki Surah "Al-Kawthar"

In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful

(1) Allah, the Most High, says to His Prophet Muhammad- may Allah praise and send him peace- consolidating him “We have granted you O Prophet abundant goodness”; meaning, a lot of good and great virtues from among them the river which Allah has prepared for His Prophet on the Day of Judgement called Al-Kawthar. Also the Hawd whose length is a month traveling and its width is likewise a month traveling, its color is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey, its cups are like the stars in the sky in their number and illumination; whoever drinks from it will never get thirsty after!

(2) Once Allah reminds the Prophet of the blessings, He orders him to be thankful for them saying "So pray and sacrifice to your Lord alone". He has specifically mentioned these two acts of worship since they are the best acts of worship and the most noble of actions to draw closer to Allah. Moreover, the prayer comprises of submission of heart and limbs to Allah and takes one through various types of veneration or servitude. Sacrificing is drawing closer to Allah with the best sacrifice the slave can offer and spending the wealth which the souls love and are stingy about.

(3) "Only the one who hates you", criticizes you, and does not give you your rights "is truly cut off from every good", prevented from all good; prevented from good deeds and prevented from being remembered. As for Muhammad – may Allah praise and send him peace- then he is truly complete; as complete as any created being can ever be in terms of being remembered or mentioned as well as having numerous helpers and followers.