Explanation of Sūrah al-Māʿūn (The Small Kindnesses)
Al-ʿAllāmah Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn
These individuals perform actions to be seen by the people. The origin of the worship is for Allāh; however, they intend with that the praise of the people. They draw close to the people by that which draws them close to Allāh. These people are indeed Murā’ūn, those who do actions to be seen. As for a person who prays for the people meaning that he prays to a king for example or other than him and he submits himself before him (like you would to Allāh) by bowing or prostrating, then this is a Mushrik Kāfir, Allāh has made Paradise forbidden for him and his abode is the Hell-fire (if he dies upon that).
Allāh says:
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ ﴿١﴾ فَذَٰلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ ﴿٣﴾ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ ﴿٥﴾ الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ ﴿٦﴾ وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ ﴿٧﴾
“Have you seen the one who denies ad-Dīn? That is the one who repulses the orphan, And urges not the feeding of al-miskīn (the poor), So woe unto those who perform the prayer, Who delay their Salat from their stated fixed times, Those who do good deeds only to be seen (by the people), And refuse al-Māʿūn (small kindnesses like salt, sugar, water, etc.)”
[Al-Māʿūn, 107:1-7]
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Translation by Abū Fouzān Qāsim