سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 34
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 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.
