Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (17) Surah: At-Tawbah
مَا كَانَ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ أَن يَعۡمُرُواْ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلۡكُفۡرِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلنَّارِ هُمۡ خَٰلِدُونَ
(17) [2042]It is not for the Associators to ˹devoutly˺ tend[2043] Allah’s places of prostration, while they bear witness against themselves of Denial[2044]. These, their deeds will come to nothing and in Hellfire they abide eternally[2045].
[2042] This is in response to anyone who raises a point about the idolaters’ doing seemingly good deeds in response to God’s command of disowning them (cf. al-Rāzī, Abū Ḥayyān, al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar).
[2043] ʿImārat al-masājid (tending places of prostration) is to take care of them and look after their needs. ʿImārah comes from the root ʿ-m-r which denotes maintaining longevity (cf. Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-Lughah, al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt). Ibn Rajab (Fatḥ al-Bārī, 2/481) notes that tending places of prostration has two senses. Firstly, materially by building, looking after, and restoring them. Secondly, non-materially by praying, mentioning God, reciting the Qur’an and performing acts of devotional worship. He concludes, citing unanimity, that this second sense is what is meant in the aya here.
[2044] They did so by both their words and deeds. They installed idols in and around the Sanctified Mosque, even inside the Kaʿbah itself, prayed to them and performed devotional acts of worship in their names, thus Associated them with God Almighty (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Basīṭ, Ibn Kathīr). Effectively, they bore witness against themselves that they are Deniers: “Verily pure religion is owed to Allah alone. Those who take allies besides Him ˹say˺: “We worship them only so that they may bring us nearer to Allah…”” (39: 3).
[2045] “Whosoever desires the life of this world and its adornment, We shall pay them in full for their deeds therein, and therein they will be deprived none of their due. *They are those for whom there shall be naught in the Hereafter but the Fire. Whatsoever they had crafted therein shall come to naught, and vain was that which they used to do” (11: 15-16).
[2043] ʿImārat al-masājid (tending places of prostration) is to take care of them and look after their needs. ʿImārah comes from the root ʿ-m-r which denotes maintaining longevity (cf. Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-Lughah, al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt). Ibn Rajab (Fatḥ al-Bārī, 2/481) notes that tending places of prostration has two senses. Firstly, materially by building, looking after, and restoring them. Secondly, non-materially by praying, mentioning God, reciting the Qur’an and performing acts of devotional worship. He concludes, citing unanimity, that this second sense is what is meant in the aya here.
[2044] They did so by both their words and deeds. They installed idols in and around the Sanctified Mosque, even inside the Kaʿbah itself, prayed to them and performed devotional acts of worship in their names, thus Associated them with God Almighty (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Wāḥidī, al-Basīṭ, Ibn Kathīr). Effectively, they bore witness against themselves that they are Deniers: “Verily pure religion is owed to Allah alone. Those who take allies besides Him ˹say˺: “We worship them only so that they may bring us nearer to Allah…”” (39: 3).
[2045] “Whosoever desires the life of this world and its adornment, We shall pay them in full for their deeds therein, and therein they will be deprived none of their due. *They are those for whom there shall be naught in the Hereafter but the Fire. Whatsoever they had crafted therein shall come to naught, and vain was that which they used to do” (11: 15-16).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (17) Surah: At-Tawbah
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.