At-Tawbah: 19

Ayah

Word by Word

أَجَعَلۡتُمۡ

Do you make

سِقَايَةَ

the providing of water

ٱلۡحَآجِّ

(to) the pilgrims

وَعِمَارَةَ

and (the) maintenance

ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ

(of) Al-Masjid Al-Haraam

ٱلۡحَرَامِ

(of) Al-Masjid Al-Haraam

كَمَنۡ

like (the one) who

ءَامَنَ

believes

بِٱللَّهِ

in Allah

وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ

and the Day

ٱلۡأٓخِرِ

the Last

وَجَٰهَدَ

and strives

فِي

سَبِيلِ

(the) way

ٱللَّهِۚ

(of) Allah

لَا

They are not equal

يَسۡتَوُۥنَ

They are not equal

عِندَ

near

ٱللَّهِۗ

Allah

وَٱللَّهُ

And Allah

لَا

(does) not

يَهۡدِي

guide

ٱلۡقَوۡمَ

the people

ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

the wrongdoers

Translation

Do ye make the giving of drink to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to (the pious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah? They are not comparable in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those who do wrong.

Tafsir

"Providing Pilgrims with Water and maintaining the Sacred Masjid are not equal to Faith and Jihad

أَجَعَلۡتُمۡ سِقَايَةَ الۡحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَرَامِ كَمَنۡ امَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالۡيَوۡمِ الاخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ

Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid Al-Haram as equal to the worth of those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah!

In his Tafsir, Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas explained this Ayah:

""The idolators said, `Maintaining Al-Masjid Al-Haram and providing water for pilgrims are better than embracing the faith and performing Jihad.'

They used to boast and show off among the people because they claimed, they were the people and maintainers of Al-Masjid Al-Haram. Allah mentioned their arrogance and rejection (of the faith), saying to `the people of Al-Haram', who were idolators,

قَدۡ كَانَتۡ ءَايَـتِى تُتۡلَى عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَكُنتُمۡ عَلَى أَعۡقَـبِكُمۡ تَنكِصُونَ

مُسۡتَكۡبِرِينَ بِهِ سَـمِراً تَهۡجُرُونَ

Indeed My Ayat used to be recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels (denying them, and refusing to listen to them with hatred). In pride, talking evil about it (the Qur'an) by night. (23:66-67)

They used to boast about being those who maintained the Sacred Sanctuary,

بِهِ سَـمِراً

(talking about it by night).

They used to talk about this by night while shunning the Qur'an and the Prophet.

Allah declared that faith and Jihad with the Prophet are better than the idolators' maintaining Al-Masjid Al-Haram and providing water for pilgrims. These actions -- maintaining and serving Allah's House -- will not benefit them with Allah because they associate others with Him.

Allah the Exalted said,

لَا يَسۡتَوُونَ عِندَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي الۡقَوۡمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

They are not equal before Allah. And Allah guides not those people who are the wrongdoers.

those who claimed they are the maintainers of the House. Allah described them with injustice, on account of their Shirk, and thus, their maintaining the Masjid will not avail them.""

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said,

""This Ayah was revealed about Al-Abbas bin Abdul-Muttalib, for when he was captured in the battle of Badr, he said, `If you rushed before us to embrace Islam, perform Hijrah and Jihad, we were maintaining Al-Masjid Al-Haram, providing water for the pilgrims and setting the indebted free.'

Allah, the Exalted and Ever High, said,

لَا يَسۡتَوُونَ عِندَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي الۡقَوۡمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Allah says, `All these actions were performed while committing Shirk, and I do not accept the (good deeds) that are performed while in a state of Shirk.""'

Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said,

""Muslims came to Al-Abbas and his friends who were captured during the battle of Badr and admonished them for their Shirk. Al-Abbas said, `By Allah! We used to maintain Al-Masjid Al-Haram, release the indebted, serve the House (or cover it, or maintain it) and provide water for pilgrims.' Allah revealed this verse,

أَجَعَلۡتُمۡ سِقَايَةَ الۡحَاجِّ

(Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims...""'

There is a Hadith (from the Prophet) about the Tafsir of this Ayah that we should mention.

Abdur-Razzaq recorded that An-Nu`man bin Bashir said that;

a man said, ""I do not care if I do not perform an action after embracing Islam other than providing drinking water for pilgrims (who visit the Ka`bah at Makkah).""

Another man said, ""I do not care if I do not perform an action after embracing Islam other than maintaining Al-Masjid Al-Haram.""

A third man said, ""Jihad in the cause of Allah is more righteous than what you have said.""

Umar admonished them, ""Do not raise your voices next to the Minbar of the Messenger of Allah,""

and as it was a Friday, he said, ""but after we pray the Friday prayer, we will go to the Prophet and ask him.""

This verse was revealed,

أَجَعَلۡتُمۡ سِقَايَةَ الۡحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الۡمَسۡجِدِ الۡحَرَامِ

(Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid Al-Haram), until,

لَا يَسۡتَوُونَ عِندَ اللّهِ

(They are not equal before Allah).

Then Allah said;

الَّذِينَ امَنُواۡ وَهَاجَرُواۡ وَجَاهَدُواۡ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ بِأَمۡوَالِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِهِمۡ أَعۡظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ اللّهِ وَأُوۡلَيِكَ هُمُ الۡفَايِزُونَ

Those who believed and emigrated and strove hard and fought in Allah's cause with their wealth and their lives, are far higher in degree with Allah. They are the successful.

يُبَشِّرُهُمۡ رَبُّهُم بِرَحۡمَةٍ مِّنۡهُ وَرِضۡوَانٍ وَجَنَّاتٍ لَّهُمۡ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُّقِيمٌ

Their Lord gives them glad tidings of mercy from Him, and His being pleased (with them), and of Gardens (Paradise) for them wherein are everlasting delights.

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا إِنَّ اللّهَ عِندَهُ أَجۡرٌ عَظِيمٌ

They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward."