Juz 10: Al-Anfāl 41 to At-Tawbah 92
Section 14 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
14. The Maintenance of Mosques
In verses 17-19 of Surah At-Tawbah, Allah (swt) addresses the issue of who has the right to maintain and inhabit the mosques. This passage establishes important principles regarding the sacred responsibility of mosque maintenance and who is worthy of this honor.
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا مَسَاجِدَ اللّهِ شَاهِدِينَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ بِالْكُفْرِ أُوْلَئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ وَفِي النَّارِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ
“It is not for the Mushriks (polytheists) to maintain the mosques of Allah, while they are witnesses of their own disbelief. Those are the ones whose deeds have gone to waste, and in the Fire they shall remain forever." [9:17]”
This verse establishes a fundamental principle: the responsibility of maintaining Allah's houses of worship cannot be entrusted to those who associate partners with Him. The term "maintain" (ya'muru) encompasses both the physical construction and upkeep of mosques and the spiritual aspects of inhabiting them with prayer, remembrance, and proper worship.
The polytheists, by virtue of their disbelief, disqualify themselves from this sacred duty. Their actions of maintaining mosques would be rendered null in the sight of Allah (swt) because they fundamentally reject the purpose for which mosques are established – the worship of One God. Their deeds, though they may appear virtuous externally, are nullified by their rejection of Tawhid (Divine Unity).
In contrast, Allah (swt) then describes who is truly qualified to maintain the mosques:
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلاَّ اللّهَ فَعَسَى أُوْلَئِكَ أَن يَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ
“The mosques of Allah are maintained by those who believe in Allah and in the Last Day, and establish Salāh, and pay Zakāh, and fear none but Allah. So, it is hoped that they are to be among those on the right path." [9:18]”
This verse outlines five essential qualities of those worthy to maintain Allah's houses:
- Faith in Allah: Genuine belief in the One God is the foundation.
- Belief in the Last Day: Awareness of accountability in the Hereafter.
- Establishing prayer: Regular and proper performance of salah.
- Paying zakat: Fulfilling financial obligations to purify wealth.
- Fearing only Allah: Having taqwa (God-consciousness) as the governing principle of life.
These qualities represent both belief and action – theoretical faith manifested through practical worship. Only those who combine these qualities are truly "on the right path" and worthy of the honor of maintaining Allah's houses.
From these verses, we derive important principles about mosque administration. While mosques may accept donations from non-Muslims who sincerely believe such giving to be virtuous (without ulterior motives), the actual administration and spiritual leadership of mosques must remain with the believers.
The maintenance of mosques is not merely a matter of physical upkeep but encompasses establishing them as centers of true worship, education, and community development.