Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Hajj Verse 25

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Surely (We will punish) those who disbelieve and prevent (people) from the way of Allah and from Al-Masjid-ul-Harām (the Sacred Mosque), which We have made for all men, where residents and visitors are all equal. And whoever intends therein to commit deviation with injustice, We will make him taste a painful punishment.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Indeed, those who persist in disbelief and hinder ˹others˺ from the Way of Allah and from the Sacred Mosque[[ The Sacred Mosque is in Mecca. ]]—which We have appointed for all people, residents and visitors alike—along with whoever intends to deviate by doing wrong in it,[[ Generally, intending to do wrong does not necessitate a punishment, unless the person acts upon it. But the Sacred Mosque is unique in that intending to sin in it is sufficient to bring punishment from Allah, unless the person repents. ]] We will cause them to taste a painful punishment.

Ruwwad Translation Center

As for those who disbelieve and prevent people from Allah’s way and from the Sacred Mosque – which We have made for all people, residents and visitors alike – and whoever intends to deviate therein by evildoing, We will cause him to taste a painful punishment.

A. J. Arberry

Those who disbelieve, and bar from God's way and the Holy Mosque that We have appointed equal unto men, alike him who cleaves to it and the tent-dweller, and whosoever purposes to violate it wrongly, We shall let him taste a painful chastisement.

Abdul Haleem

As for the disbelievers, who bar others from God’s path and from the Sacred Mosque- which We made for all people, residents and visitors alike- and who try to violate it with wrongdoing, We shall make them taste a painful punishment.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Verily those who disbelieve and hinder others from the path of Allah and from the Sacred Mosque which We have appointed for mankind, equal in respect thereunto are the dweller therein and the stranger. And whosoever will seek profanity therein wrongfully, We shall make him taste of a torment afflictive.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As to those who have rejected (Allah), and would keep back (men) from the Way of Allah, and from the Sacred Mosque, which We have made (open) to (all) men - equal is the dweller there and the visitor from the country - and any whose purpose therein is profanity or wrong-doing - them will We cause to taste of a most Grievous Penalty.

Abul Ala Maududi

Indeed those who disbelieve and who (now) hinder people from the Way of Allah and hinder them from the Holy Mosque which We have set up (as a place of worship) for all people, equally for those who dwell therein and for those who come from outside, (they surely deserve punishment). Whosoever deviates therein from the Right Way and acts with iniquity, We shall cause him to taste a painful chastisement.

Ahmed Ali

As for those who disbelieve, and obstruct the way of God and the holy Mosque which We have set down for all men, the native and the visitor alike. Whoever puts obstructions in this mischievously will taste of painful punishment.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Indeed those who have disbelieved and prevent from the way of Allah and from this Sacred Mosque, which We have appointed for all mankind – its resident and the foreigner have the same rights in it; and whoever wrongfully intends injustice in it – We shall make him taste a painful punishment.

Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed those who are faithless and bar from the way of Allah and the Sacred Mosque, which We have made for all people, the native and the visitor being equal therein—whoever wrongfully tries to commit violation in it, We shall make him taste a painful punishment.

Ali Ünal

Those who disbelieve and bar (others) from God’s way and (the believers from visiting) the Sacred Mosque, which We have set up as a place of worship for all (believing) people alike, both for those who dwell therein (in Makkah) and for those who come from abroad – whoever seeks a deviation from the right course therein by deliberate wrongdoing, We cause him to taste a painful punishment.

Amatul Rahman Omar

(As to) those who disbelieve and hinder (people) from (following) the path of Allâh and (from going to) the Holy Mosque which We have made (a source of goodness and benefit) for all people, and where the inhabitants thereof (- of Makkah) and the visitors from outside are equal; and whoever seeks wrongfully to promote crookedness in it, We shall make him suffer woeful punishment.

English Literal

That those who disbelieved and prevent/obstruct from God`s way/path , and the Mosque the Forbidden/Respected/Sacred which We made/put it to/for the people, equal the devoted/dedicated in it, and the apparent (visitor), and who wants/intends in it by deviation/apostasy with injustice/oppression, We make him taste/experience from a painful torture.

Faridul Haque

Indeed those who have disbelieved and prevent from the way of Allah and from this Sacred Mosque, which We have appointed for all mankind – its resident and the foreigner have the same rights in it; and whoever wrongfully intends injustice in it - We shall make him taste a painful punishment.

Hamid S. Aziz

For they are guided to goodly speech, and they shall be guided to the path of Him who is worthy of all praise (the All-laudable or Glorious One).

Hilali & Khan

Verily! Those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, and from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there [as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage (Hajj and 'Umrah)]. And whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islamic Monotheism), him We shall cause to taste a painful torment.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they are guided to pure words, and they are guided to the path of the Praised One.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Surely (as for) those who disbelieve, and hinder (men) from Allah's way and from the Sacred Mosque which We have made equally for all men, (for) the dweller therein and (for) the visitor, and whoever shall incline therein to wrong unjustly, We will make him taste of a painful chastisement.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Lo! those who disbelieve and bar (men) from the way of Allah and from the Inviolable Place of Worship, which We have appointed for mankind together, the dweller therein and the nomad: whosoever seeketh wrongful partiality therein, him We shall cause to taste a painful doom.

Muhammad Sarwar

A painful torment awaits the pagans who create obstacles in the way that leads to God and the Sacred Mosque - which We have made for those who dwell nearby and foreigners alike - and those who commit evil and injustice therein.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The unbelievers who bar from the Way of Allah and from the Holy Mosque which We made equal for all peoples, he who cleaves to it and the tentdweller alike, and whosoever seeks to violate it wrongfully, We shall let him taste a painful punishment.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Verily, those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the path of Allah, and from Al-Masjid Al-Haram which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there, and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment.

Wahiduddin Khan

As for those who deny the truth and debar others from God's path and from the Sacred Mosque which We set up for all people, natives and strangers alike, and all who seek to profane it by evil-doing -- We shall make them taste a painful punishment.

Talal Itani

As for those who disbelieve and repel from God’s path and from the Sacred Mosque—which We have designated for all mankind equally, whether residing therein or passing through—and seek to commit sacrilege therein—We will make him taste of a painful punishment.

Tafsir jalalayn

Truly those who disbelieve, and who bar from the way of God, [from] obedience to Him, and, from, the Sacred Mosque, which We have assigned, as a [holy] rite and a place of devotion, for mankind, equally for the dweller, the one who resides, therein and the visitor, the passer-by; and whoever seeks [to commit] sacrilege therein (the b' [of bi-ilhdin, `sacrilege'] is extra) by doing wrong, in other words, for such a reason, committing what is forbidden, even if he should curse the [Mosque's] attendant, We shall make him taste a painful chastisement, that is, some such [chastisement] (from this [last clause] one may derive the predicate of [the introductory particle] inna, `truly', and it is this; `We shall make them taste a painful chastisement'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

A Warning to Those Who hinder Others from the Path of Allah and from Al-Masjid Al-Haram and Who seek to do Evil Actions therein

Allah rebukes the disbelievers for preventing the believers from coming to Al-Masjid Al-Haram and performing their rites and rituals there, claiming that they were its guardians,

وَمَا كَانُواْ أَوْلِيَأءَهُ إِنْ أَوْلِيَأوُهُ إِلاَّ الْمُتَّقُونَ

and they are not its guardians. None can be its guardians except those who have Taqwa. (8;34)

In this Ayah there is proof that it was revealed in Al-Madinah, as Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah;

يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ اللَّهِ

They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months. Say, "Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allah is to prevent mankind from following the way of Allah, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and to drive out its inhabitants. (2;217)

And Allah says here;

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ

Verily, those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the path of Allah, and from Al-Masjid Al-Haram,

meaning, not only are they disbelievers, but they also hinder people from the path of Allah and from Al-Masjid Al-Haram. They prevent the believers who want to go there from reaching it, although the believers have more right than anyone else to go there.

The structure of this phrase is like that to be found in the Ayah;

الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطْمَيِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَيِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

Those who believed, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. (13;28)

Not only are they believers, but their hearts also find rest in the remembrance of Allah.
The Issue of renting Houses in Makkah

Allah says;

الَّذِي جَعَلْنَاهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَاء الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ

which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there.

meaning that they prevent people from reaching Al-Masjid Al-Haram, which Allah has made equally accessible to all in Shariah, with no differentiation between those who live there and those who live far away from it.

سَوَاء الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ

the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there,

Part of this equality is that everyone has equal access to all parts of the city and can live there, as Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas concerning the Ayah;
سَوَاء الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ
(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there), he (Ibn Abbas) said;
"Both the people of Makkah and others can stay in Al-Masjid Al-Haram."

سَوَاء الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ

the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there,

Mujahid said,

"The people of Makkah and others are equally allowed to stay there."

This was also the view of Abu Salih, Abdur-Rahman bin Sabit and Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam.

Abdur-Razzaq narrated from Ma`mar, from Qatadah who said;

"Its own people and others are equal therein."

This is the issue about which Ash-Shafi`i and Ishaq bin Rahwayh differed in the Masjid of Al-Khayf, when Ahmad bin Hanbal was also present. Ash-Shafi`i was of the opinion that the various parts of Makkah can be owned, inherited and rented, and he used as evidence the Hadith of Usamah bin Zayd who said,

"I said, O Messenger of Allah, will you go and stay tomorrow in your house in Makkah?"

He said,

وَهَلْ تَرَكَ لَنَا عَقِيلٌ مِنْ رِبَاعٍ



Has Aqil left us any property?

Then he said,

لَاا يَرِثُ الْكَافِرُ الْمُسْلِمَ وَلَاا الْمُسْلِمُ الْكَافِر

A disbeliever does not inherit from a Muslim and a Muslim does not inherit from a disbeliever.

This Hadith was recorded in the Two Sahihs.

He also used as evidence the report that Umar bin Al-Khattab bought a house in Makkah from Safwan bin Umayyah for four thousand Dinars, and made it into a prison.

This was also the view of Tawus and `Amr bin Dinar.

Ishaq bin Rahwayh was of the opinion that they (houses in Makkah) could not be inherited or rented.

This was the view of a number of the Salaf, and Mujahid and Ata' said likewise.

Ishaq bin Rahwayh used as evidence the report recorded by Ibn Majah from Alqamah bin Nadlah who said,

"The Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr and Umar died, and nobody claimed any property in Makkah except the grazing animals. Whoever needed to live there would take up residence there, and whoever did not need to live there would let others take up residence there."

Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Abdullah bin `Amr said,

"It is not allowed to sell or rent the houses of Makkah."

He also said, narrating from Ibn Jurayj;

"`Ata' would not allow people to charge rent in the Haram, and he told me that Umar bin Al-Khattab did not allow people to put gates on the houses of Makkah because the pilgrims used to stay in their courtyards.

The first person to put a gate on his house was Suhayl bin `Amr. Umar bin Al-Khattab sent for him about that and he said, `Listen to me, O Commander of the faithful, I am a man who engages in trade and I want to protect my back.'

He said, `Then you may do that."'

Abdur-Razzaq recorded from Mujahid that Umar bin Al-Khattab said,

"O people of Makkah, do not put gates on your houses, and let the Bedouins stay wherever they want."

He said;Ma`mar told us, narrating from someone who heard `Ata' say about the Ayah,
سَوَاء الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ
(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there),

"They may stay wherever they want."

Ad-Daraqutni recorded a saying reported from Abdullah bin `Amr;

"Whoever charges rent for the houses of Makkah, consumes fire."

Imam Ahmad took a middle path, according to what his son Salih narrated from him, and he said,

"They may be owned and inherited, but they should not be rented, so as to reconcile between all the proofs."

And Allah knows best.
A Warning to Those Who want to commit Evil Actions in the Haram

Allah says;

وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ



and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment.

بِظُلْمٍ
(or to do wrong),

means, he aims deliberately to do wrong, and it is not the matter of misunderstanding.

As Ibn Jurayj said narrating from Ibn Abbas,

"This means someone whose actions are intentional."

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"The evil action of Shirk."

Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said;

"The evil action is allowing in the Haram what Allah has forbidden, such as mistreating and killing, whereby you do wrong to those who have done you no wrong and you kill those who have not fought you. If a person does this, then he deserves to suffer a painful torment."

بِظُلْمٍ
(or to do wrong),

Mujahid said,

"To do some bad action therein. This is one of the unique features of Al-Haram, that the person who is about to do some evil action should be punished if this is his intention, even if he has not yet commenced the action."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded in his Tafsir that Abdullah (i.e., Ibn Mas`ud) commented about the Ayah,
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong),

"If a man intends to do some evil action therein, Allah will make him taste a painful torment."

This was also recorded by Ahmad.

I say, (its) chain is Sahih according to the conditions of Al-Bukhari, and it is more likely Mawquf than Marfu`. And Allah knows best.

Sa`id bin Jubayr said,

"Insulting a servant and anything more than that is (counted as) wrongdoing."
Habib bin Abi Thabit said;
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong),

"Hoarding (goods) in Makkah."

This was also the view of others.

وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong), Ibn Abbas said,

"This was revealed about Abdullah bin Unays. The Messenger of Allah sent him with two men, one of whom was a Muhajir and the other from among the Ansar. They began to boast about their lineages and Abdullah bin Unays got angry and killed the Ansari. Then he reverted from Islam (became an apostate) and fled to Makkah. Then these words were revealed concerning him;
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ
(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong), meaning, whoever flees to Al-Haram to do evil actions, i.e., by leaving Islam."

These reports indicate some meanings of the phrase "evil actions", but the meaning is more general than that and includes things which are more serious. Hence when the owners of the Elephant planned to destroy the House (the Ka`bah), Allah sent against them birds in flocks,

تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ

فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولِ

Striking them with stones of Sijjil. And He made them like (an empty field of) stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by cattle). (105;4-5)

means He destroyed them and made them a lesson and a warning for everyone who intends to commit evil actions there.

Hence it was reported in a Hadith that the Messenger of Allah said;

يَغْزُو هَذَا الْبَيْتَ جَيْشٌ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الاَْرْضِ خُسِفَ بِأَوَّلِهِمْ وَاخِرِهِم

This House will be attacked by an army, then when they are in a wide open space, the first of them and the last of them will be swallowed up by the earth