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 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.
19. Do you consider the giving of water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque as equal to the deeds of one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and strives in the way of Allah? [18] They are not equal in the sight of Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
[18]
Issues of Jihad:
Regarding the context of revelation of this verse, consider the following hadith: Sayyiduna Nu'man bin Bashir says that I was sitting near the pulpit of the Prophet ﷺ when a man said, "I do not care if, after accepting Islam, I do no deed except giving water to the pilgrims." Another said, "I do not care if, after accepting Islam, I do no deed except the construction and maintenance of Masjid al-Haram." The third said, "Jihad in the way of Allah is superior to the deeds you are mentioning." Sayyiduna Umar ؓ rebuked them, saying, "Do not raise your voices near the pulpit." Nu'man says that it was the day of Jumu'ah. Then Sayyiduna Umar ؓ said, "After the Jumu'ah prayer, I will go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and will definitely ask about the matter in which you are differing." On this occasion, Allah Almighty revealed this verse. [مسلم۔ كتاب الامارة باب فضل الشهادة فى سبيل الله] In this verse, the address is general for both Muslims and polytheists. For the polytheists, in the sense that they used to boastfully say that they serve the pilgrims, give them water, and provide them with food and clothing, and also take care of the repair of Masjid al-Haram, the covering of the Ka'bah, or its lighting, etc. If Muslims consider their jihad and migration to be superior deeds, then we also have this treasure of worship. The answer given to them was that when you do not have faith in the Hereafter and in Allah, then all your deeds will be in vain. And if the address of this verse is considered to be towards the Muslims, then it refers to the mutual comparison of their deeds. That is, those Muslims who merely believe in Allah and the Hereafter cannot be equal in the sight of Allah to those Muslims who both believe and also perform jihad.
[18]
Issues of Jihad:
Regarding the context of revelation of this verse, consider the following hadith: Sayyiduna Nu'man bin Bashir says that I was sitting near the pulpit of the Prophet ﷺ when a man said, "I do not care if, after accepting Islam, I do no deed except giving water to the pilgrims." Another said, "I do not care if, after accepting Islam, I do no deed except the construction and maintenance of Masjid al-Haram." The third said, "Jihad in the way of Allah is superior to the deeds you are mentioning." Sayyiduna Umar ؓ rebuked them, saying, "Do not raise your voices near the pulpit." Nu'man says that it was the day of Jumu'ah. Then Sayyiduna Umar ؓ said, "After the Jumu'ah prayer, I will go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and will definitely ask about the matter in which you are differing." On this occasion, Allah Almighty revealed this verse. [مسلم۔ كتاب الامارة باب فضل الشهادة فى سبيل الله] In this verse, the address is general for both Muslims and polytheists. For the polytheists, in the sense that they used to boastfully say that they serve the pilgrims, give them water, and provide them with food and clothing, and also take care of the repair of Masjid al-Haram, the covering of the Ka'bah, or its lighting, etc. If Muslims consider their jihad and migration to be superior deeds, then we also have this treasure of worship. The answer given to them was that when you do not have faith in the Hereafter and in Allah, then all your deeds will be in vain. And if the address of this verse is considered to be towards the Muslims, then it refers to the mutual comparison of their deeds. That is, those Muslims who merely believe in Allah and the Hereafter cannot be equal in the sight of Allah to those Muslims who both believe and also perform jihad.
