Surah Al-Ma'un — Verse 2

Word Meanings:

• Yadū‘u (يَدُعُّ): To push away harshly, repel with force, or drive back with roughness and severity.
• Al-Yatīm (الْيَتِيم): The orphan — a child who has lost his father before reaching maturity.

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse describes the character of those who deny the Day of Recompense, which was mentioned in the previous verse. Allah says: "That is the one who repels the orphan with harshness and severity." This means that such a person, due to the hardness of his heart and the cruelty of his nature, pushes the orphan away from his rights. He does not show mercy to the weak, nor does he care for the vulnerable. He drives the orphan away from his needs with roughness and violence, refusing to give him what is rightfully his. In the pre-Islamic society of ignorance, orphans were deprived of their inheritance and their rights, and this verse condemns that oppressive behavior in the strongest terms.

The verse highlights a profound moral truth: the denial of accountability before Allah leads to the breakdown of compassion and justice in society. When a person does not believe that he will stand before his Lord to be questioned, he becomes arrogant and cruel, mistreating those who are powerless. The orphan — who has already lost the protection and care of a father — becomes an easy target for such heartless individuals.

A Call to Reflection and Action:

Dear reader, reflect on the beauty of Islam, which places the care of orphans at the forefront of its teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "I and the one who cares for an orphan will be together in Paradise like this" — and he held his index and middle fingers together. Islam elevates the status of the weak and commands the strong to protect them. This verse is not merely a description of the disbelievers; it is a warning to every Muslim to examine their own heart. Do we push away the orphan, the needy, and the vulnerable — or do we embrace them with kindness and generosity? Let this verse be a mirror for your soul, and a motivation to be among those who uphold justice, show mercy, and earn the pleasure of Allah. The one who cares for the orphan will find Allah's care and protection in this life and the next.