سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 18
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿18﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The Mosques of Allâh shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât and fear none but Allâh. It is they who are on true guidance.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Only
يَعْمُرُ
yaʿmuru
will maintain
مَسَـٰجِدَ
masājida
(the) masajid of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(the) masajid of Allah
مَنْ
man
(the one) who
ءَامَنَ
āmana
believes
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَٱلْيَوْمِ
wal-yawmi
and the Day
ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ
l-ākhiri
the Last
وَأَقَامَ
wa-aqāma
and establishes
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ
l-ṣalata
the prayer
وَءَاتَى
waātā
and gives
ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
l-zakata
the zakah
وَلَمْ
walam
and not
يَخْشَ
yakhsha
fear
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱللَّهَ ۖ
l-laha
Allah
فَعَسَىٰٓ
faʿasā
Then perhaps
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
ulāika
those
أَن
an
[that]
يَكُونُوا۟
yakūnū
they are
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
l-muh'tadīna
the guided ones
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.
(Ayah18){ اِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسٰجِدَ اللّٰهِ مَنْ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰهِ …:} The construction of mosques includes building them, coming to them for prayers, cleanliness, lighting, maintenance, supervision, etc., and all these are the work only of those in whom especially four qualities are found: (1) Faith in Allah and the Last Day, (2) Establishment of prayer as testimony to this faith in outward actions, (3) Payment of zakat, (4) And not fearing anyone except Allah, whereas the polytheists are devoid of all four of these qualities. The construction, flourishing, and respect of mosques is a most exalted deed. It is narrated from Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever builds a mosque seeking thereby the Face of Allah, Allah will build for him a house like it in Paradise.” [ بخاری، الصلاۃ، باب من بنی مسجدًا : ۴۵۰ ] Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The most beloved places to Allah in all the lands are their mosques, and the most disliked places to Allah in all the lands are their markets.” [ مسلم، المساجد، باب فضل الجلوس فی مصلاہ… : ۶۷۱ ]
