Suwar Quran

Surah Al-Ma'un explained for children, in pictures

We pray on time and help the orphan, the poor and our neighbours

7 verses · 3 lessons · Juz Amma

Meaning from Tafsir Al-Muyassar, simplified for children. Reviewed by Sherif Alkady, 16 October 2026.

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The lessons

  1. Paper-cut picture from Surah Al-Ma'un: a heavy wooden door shut tight in a mud-brick wall, a single empty clay bowl on the doorstep outside, soft evening light
    1 · Verses 1–3

    The orphan and the poor

    Have you seen the one who denies the Day of Judgement? He is the one who pushes the orphan away harshly and keeps back his right, and does not urge others to feed the poor, so how would he feed them himself?

  2. Paper-cut picture from Surah Al-Ma'un: a prayer rug laid neatly by an open window, the sun setting behind a minaret outside, warm light falling across the rug
    2 · Verses 4–5

    Prayer on time

    So a severe punishment awaits those who pray while careless about their prayer: they don't perform it properly and don't pray it on time.

  3. Paper-cut picture from Surah Al-Ma'un: two neighbouring mud-brick doorways, a copper cooking pot, a bucket and a small oil lamp set on the shared step between them, ready to lend
    3 · Verses 6–7

    Small help

    They are the ones who do good only so people will see them, and who refuse to lend their neighbours simple things that cost them nothing to lend, like a pot or a bowl.

Surah Al-Ma'un at a glance

Surah Al-Ma'un is a Makki surah with 7 verses; it is number 107 in the mushaf, in juz 30 (Juz Amma), and starts on page 602.

Order in the mushaf
107
Number of verses
7 verses
Makki or Madani
Makki (revealed in Makkah)
Juz
30 (Juz Amma)
Starts on page
602
What its name means
Al-Ma'un is any small thing neighbours lend each other, like a pot or a bucket: the surah blames those who refuse it.

Classification, verse count and page numbers follow the Madinah Mushaf (Hafs from Asim, Kufi count).

Word meanings in Surah Al-Ma'un for kids

Meanings from Tafsir Al-Muyassar, in simple words.

بِٱلدِّينِ
the Judgement (Verse 1)
يَدُعُّ
harshly pushes away (Verse 2)
يَحُضُّ
encourage (Verse 3)
سَاهُونَ
heedless (Verse 5)
يُرَآءُونَ
show off (Verse 6)
ٱلْمَاعُونَ
small things lent to others, like pots (Verse 7)

Check your understanding of Surah Al-Ma'un: questions for kids

Read the question, think, then tap the answer you choose.

  1. 1. How does the one who denies the Day of Judgement treat the orphan?

  2. 2. What does he fail to do for the needy?

  3. 3. What is wrong with the heedless people's prayer?

  4. 4. Why do some of them do good, as the surah says?

  5. 5. What do they refuse their neighbours?

Questions parents ask

What is a simple explanation of Surah Al-Ma'un for children?

It describes the one who denies the Day of Judgement: he pushes the orphan away harshly and does not urge others to feed the poor. And it warns those who are careless about their prayer and do not pray it on time, those who do good only to be seen, and those who refuse their neighbours simple things.

What is «Al-Ma'un»?

The simple things neighbours borrow, which cost the owner nothing to lend, like a pot or a bowl.

What is the lesson of Surah Al-Ma'un?

That we pray on time, help the orphan, the poor and our neighbours, and do good for Allah, not so people will see us.

Why is Surah Al-Ma'un called by this name?

Al-Ma'un is any small thing neighbours lend each other, like a pot or a bucket: the surah blames those who refuse it.

What are the main facts about Surah Al-Ma'un?

Surah Al-Ma'un is a Makki surah with 7 verses; it is number 107 in the mushaf, in juz 30 (Juz Amma), and starts on page 602. Its big idea: We pray on time and help the orphan, the poor and our neighbours.

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