سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 19
۞ أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ ٱلْحَآجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَجَـٰهَدَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوُۥنَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿19﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjidal-Harâm (at Makkah) as equal to the worth of those who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, and strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allâh? They are not equal before Allâh. And Allâh guides not those people who are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ أَجَعَلْتُمْ
ajaʿaltum
Do you make
سِقَايَةَ
siqāyata
the providing of water
ٱلْحَآجِّ
l-ḥāji
(to) the pilgrims
وَعِمَارَةَ
waʿimārata
and (the) maintenance
ٱلْمَسْجِدِ
l-masjidi
(of) Al-Masjid Al-Haraam
ٱلْحَرَامِ
l-ḥarāmi
(of) Al-Masjid Al-Haraam
كَمَنْ
kaman
like (the one) who
ءَامَنَ
āmana
believes
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَٱلْيَوْمِ
wal-yawmi
and the Day
ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ
l-ākhiri
the Last
وَجَـٰهَدَ
wajāhada
and strives
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ ۚ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
لَا
lā
They are not equal
يَسْتَوُۥنَ
yastawūna
They are not equal
عِندَ
ʿinda
near
ٱللَّهِ ۗ
l-lahi
Allah
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
لَا
lā
(does) not
يَهْدِى
yahdī
guide
ٱلْقَوْمَ
l-qawma
the people
ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
l-ẓālimīna
the wrongdoers
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.
(Ayah19){ اَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَآجِّ … :} The addressees of this verse are both the polytheists and the Muslims, because the polytheists used to take great pride in the service of the Ka'bah, its custodianship, and giving drinks and water to the pilgrims, and some Muslims also considered this to be the highest deed. Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that I was sitting near the pulpit of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a group of his companions, when a man said that after accepting Islam, if I do nothing except give water to the pilgrims, I do not care. Another said, rather, the maintenance of Masjid al-Haram (is superior). Another said, rather, jihad in the way of Allah is better than what you are saying. So Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) scolded them and said, do not raise your voices near the pulpit of the Prophet (peace be upon him), this was on the day of Jumu'ah, but when you have prayed Jumu'ah, I will go to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and have him decide your dispute. So Allah revealed this verse: «اَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَآجِّ وَ عِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ » [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب فضل الشھادۃ فی سبیل اللّٰہ تعالٰی : ۱۸۷۹] That is, although these deeds are virtuous, they have no standing compared to faith in Allah and the Last Day and striving in the way of Allah, and then, without faith, they are not even accepted. «وَ اللّٰهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظّٰلِمِيْنَ » Shirk is the greatest injustice, so how can the one who persists in it be granted the straight path?
