Outwardly...

Outwardly, it means those who do the salah hypocritically, for others to see, who simply perform the outer movements as though trying to please someone looking on. The highest ihsan (supreme excellence) is real `ubudiyah (worship, service), and real `ubudiyah manifests in the outward, sincere establishment of the five prayers. The people referred to here, however, miss the point of the prayers; they miss the oceans of light that emanate from that repeated act.

6 Those who wish to be seen, 7 And refuse the daily necessities (to their fel­low men). Outwardly this is the least a person can do, to donate from his property, to share his goods with others for their sustenance. At that time this ayah was an injunction upon everyone to share. Maun in everyday Arabic usage means "the plate upon which food is served," and by extension means any useful article.

The meaning of this surah is that we must use every tool that is available to help others reduce their outer afflictions until they recog­nize the truth of the din which is incumbent upon them. Previous…