Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 17

(Ayah17) ➊ { مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِيْنَ … :} Up to this point was the declaration of disassociation from the covenants and agreements of the disbelievers, the command for jihad against the disbelievers, and the explanation of its benefits and wisdoms. Now begins the explanation that the right to maintain, supervise, and serve Allah’s mosques in any way does not belong to the polytheists, because mosques are exclusively for Allah: «وَاَنَّ الْمَسٰجِدَ لِلّٰهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوْا مَعَ اللّٰهِ اَحَدًا» [ الجن : ۱۸ ] “And that, indeed, the mosques are for Allah, so do not call upon anyone with Allah.” So how can the right of supervision and maintenance belong to those who themselves are witnesses and testifiers against themselves of disbelief in that sole Owner, who, even at the time of Hajj and Umrah (which are only for Allah), openly associate others with Him while saying the talbiyah? Thus, Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the polytheists used to say: [ لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ ] “Here I am, You have no partner.” So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would say: “Stop at this, do not say anything further.” But they would say: [ إِلاَّ شَرِيْكًا هُوَ لَكَ تَمْلِكُهُ وَمَا مَلَكَ ] “Except a partner who is Yours, You own him, but he does not own anything.” They used to say these words while circumambulating the House of Allah. [مسلم، الحج، باب التلبیۃ وصفتھا و وقتھا : ۱۱۸۵ ] Their testimony to their own disbelief was also those three hundred and sixty idols which they had placed inside and around the Ka’bah, and they had drawn images of elders and deities on the walls of the Ka’bah. They had made images of Ibrahim and Isma’il (peace be upon them) holding divining arrows in their hands, their worship was to call upon others besides Allah, their respect for the House of Allah was extreme indecency, i.e., men and women circumambulating naked, and their prayer was to clap hands and whistle, performing polytheistic chants. Such people do not have any right to become caretakers, custodians, or servants of Allah’s first and most excellent House, let alone any of His mosques, so it is obligatory upon Muslims to free the Ka’bah and other mosques from them. Allama Iqbal has drawn a very fine point here that Allah Almighty has made the entire earth a mosque for Muslims, as He said: [ جُعِلَتْ لِيَ الْاَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَّ طَهُوْرًا ] [ بخاری، التیمم، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : «فلم تجدوا مآء… » : ۳۳۵۔ مسلم : ۵۲۳ ] Therefore, it is a matter of honor and a cause for shame for Muslims if their mosque is under the control of non-Muslims; rather, this entire mosque, i.e., the whole earth, should be under the control of Muslims and the disbelievers should be under their authority.

➋ { اُولٰٓىِٕكَ حَبِطَتْ اَعْمَالُهُمْ:} That is, even if they have done some good deeds, such as serving the Sacred Mosque and the pilgrims, all of that has been nullified because of their polytheism.

17. 1. By مَسَا جِدَ اللّٰہِ is meant Masjid Haram. The plural form is used because it is the qiblah and center of all mosques, or in Arabic, the plural is also permissible for the singular.
17. 2. That is, those of their actions which outwardly appear good, such as tawaf, umrah, and serving the pilgrims, etc. Because without faith, these deeds are like a tree without fruit or like flowers that have no fragrance.

17. It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allah while they bear witness against themselves to disbelief [15]. Their deeds have become worthless [16], and they will abide in the Fire forever.

[15]
In What Ways Did the Polytheists of Makkah Disrespect the House of Allah?

That is, the custodianship, guardianship, and maintenance of the Ka'bah or any mosque is not appropriate for polytheists. The Ka'bah was built purely for the worship of Allah, and similarly, other mosques are also built for this very purpose. But these polytheists would associate others with Allah even in the House of Allah. Thus, the polytheists had placed three hundred and sixty idols in this House of Allah. They had drawn pictures of their elders and gods and goddesses on the walls. And these wrongdoers had made statues of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ and Sayyiduna Isma'il ؑ and placed divining arrows in their hands. After the conquest of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ purified the House of Allah from all these things. Then such obscenity was committed in the House of Allah that both men and women would perform tawaf naked. Furthermore, these wrongdoers would testify to their polytheism during tawaf by saying these words: «لاشريك لك الآ شريك هولك تملكه» [مسلم۔ كتاب الحج]
In their eyes, there was no concept of respect for the House of Allah at all, to the extent that they had turned their worship into whistling, clapping, and gatherings of singing and music. So, can such people be deserving of the maintenance and guardianship of mosques?
[16] Because the reward of deeds depends on faith in Allah and the Last Day, and the polytheists did not even believe in the Last Day, and their concept regarding faith in Allah was entirely wrong. They had given all divine powers and authority to their gods and goddesses and elders, so due to their lack of faith, their good deeds will be wasted, and because of polytheism and evil deeds, they will remain in Hell forever.