سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 17
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا۟ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is not for the Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh), to maintain the Mosques of Allâh (i.e. to pray and worship Allâh therein, to look after their cleanliness and their building,), while they witness against their ownselves of disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَا
mā
(It) is not
كَانَ
kāna
(It) is not
لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ
lil'mush'rikīna
for the polytheists
أَن
an
that
يَعْمُرُوا۟
yaʿmurū
they maintain
مَسَـٰجِدَ
masājida
(the) masajid of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(the) masajid of Allah
شَـٰهِدِينَ
shāhidīna
(while) witnessing
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
against
أَنفُسِهِم
anfusihim
themselves
بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ
bil-kuf'ri
[with] disbelief
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
ulāika
(For) those
حَبِطَتْ
ḥabiṭat
worthless
أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ
aʿmāluhum
(are) their deeds
وَفِى
wafī
and in
ٱلنَّارِ
l-nāri
the Fire
هُمْ
hum
they
خَـٰلِدُونَ
khālidūna
(will) abide forever
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.
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.
[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.
