سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ

Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 34

The Spoils of War · Medinan · Juz 9 · Page 181

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وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآءَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿34﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And why should not Allâh punish them while they hinder (men) from Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm, and they are not its guardians? None can be its guardians except Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2), but most of them know not.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَمَا wamā But what
لَهُمْ lahum (is) for them
أَلَّا allā that not
يُعَذِّبَهُمُ yuʿadhibahumu (should) punish them
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
وَهُمْ wahum while they
يَصُدُّونَ yaṣuddūna hinder (people)
عَنِ ʿani from
ٱلْمَسْجِدِ l-masjidi Al-Masjid
ٱلْحَرَامِ l-ḥarāmi Al-Haraam
وَمَا wamā while not
كَانُوٓا۟ kānū they are
أَوْلِيَآءَهُۥٓ ۚ awliyāahu its guardians
إِنْ in Not (can be)
أَوْلِيَآؤُهُۥٓ awliyāuhu its guardians
إِلَّا illā except
ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ l-mutaqūna the ones who fear Allah
وَلَـٰكِنَّ walākinna but
أَكْثَرَهُمْ aktharahum most of them
لَا lā (do) not
يَعْلَمُونَ yaʿlamūna know

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 34) {وَ مَا لَهُمْ اَلَّا يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللّٰهُ … :} In this verse, several reasons are mentioned for their deserving of punishment. Firstly, they have imposed a restriction on the entry of Muslims into Masjid al-Haram. Secondly, they have forcibly assumed ownership and custodianship of Masjid al-Haram, whereas the custodianship of the Ka'bah is the right only of the monotheistic, God-fearing people, not of the polytheists. See Surah At-Tawbah (17, 18). Thirdly, instead of worshipping Allah in a manner befitting His majesty and as He has prescribed, they perform worship by clapping and whistling through singing. Therefore, why should punishment not come upon them? Punishment will come, and certainly will come. In the previous verse, the punishment that was negated was the one that wipes out entire nations, i.e., the punishment of total destruction. In this verse, the punishment is mentioned which was imposed upon them as a lesson in the form of famine, fear, and war. See Surah An-Nahl (112, 113), Surah As-Sajdah (21), and Surah Ad-Dukhan (10 to 16). This punishment was imposed upon the people of Makkah in the form of the Battle of Badr, famine, hunger, fear, and finally the conquest of Makkah. As a result, their great leaders were killed or captured, and those who survived eventually entered Islam.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

34. 1. That is, those polytheists considered themselves the custodians of Masjid al-Haram (the Ka'bah) and, on this basis, would allow whomever they wished to perform Tawaf and prevent whomever they wished. Thus, they would also prevent Muslims from entering Masjid al-Haram, even though they were not its true custodians, but had forcibly assumed this position. Allah Almighty said that only pious individuals can be its custodians, not polytheists. Furthermore, the punishment mentioned in this verse refers to the conquest of Makkah, which was a great punishment for the polytheists. The punishment negated in the previous verse, which does not come due to the presence of the Prophet or because of seeking forgiveness, refers to the punishment of total destruction and annihilation. Minor punishments as a lesson and warning are not contrary to this.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

34. And why should Allah not punish those who prevent others from the Sacred Mosque, though they are not its guardians? Its true guardians are only the righteous, but most of them do not know. [35]

[35]
Conditions for the Custodianship of the Ka'bah, the Usurpation of the Ka'bah by the Disbelievers of Makkah:

That is, there is no doubt in their being deserving of punishment. If punishment is not coming upon them, then the above-mentioned reasons are the cause, and there are also two reasons for their being deserving of punishment: one is that they have imposed a restriction on the entry of Muslims into the House of Allah, and the second reason is that they have usurped the House of Allah and claim that they are its custodians because they are the descendants of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ. Whereas, a custodian does not have the right to prevent anyone from entering the House of Allah. Also, being from the descendants of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ is not sufficient for custodianship; rather, it is also necessary that he be upon the religion of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ, and he was a monotheist, not a polytheist. That is, if the descendants of Ibrahim are polytheists, then custodianship will be taken from them and given to the one who is a monotheist and pious, whether he is from the descendants of Ibrahim or not. The first condition for the custodianship of the Ka'bah is piety and the fear of Allah, not being from the descendants of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ.
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