Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 19

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Have you taken the serving of water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid-ul-Harām as equal to (the acts) of one who believes in Allah and in the Last Day, and carries out Jihād in the way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah does not lead the wrongdoing people to the right path.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Do you ˹pagans˺ consider providing the pilgrims with water and maintaining the Sacred Mosque as equal to believing in Allah and the Last Day and struggling in the cause of Allah? They are not equal in Allah’s sight. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Do you consider giving water to the pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Mosque as equal to believing in Allah and the Last Day and striving in Allah’s cause? They are not equal before Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

A. J. Arberry

Do you reckon the giving of water to pilgrims and the inhabiting of the Holy Mosque as the same as one who believes in God and the Last Day and struggles in the way of God? Not equal are they in God's sight; and God guides not the people of the evildoers.

Abdul Haleem

Do you consider giving water to pilgrims and tending the Sacred Mosque to be equal to the deeds of those who believe in God and the Last Day and who strive in God’s path? They are not equal in God’s eyes. God does not guide such benighted people.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Make ye the giving of drinks unto the pilgrims and the tendance of the Sacred Mosque like unto the conduct of one who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and striveth hard in the way of Allah! Equal they are not with Allah, and Allah guideth not the wrong-doing people.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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.

Abul Ala Maududi

Do you consider providing water to the Pilgrims and tending the Sacred Mosque equal in worth to believing in Allah and the Last Day and striving in the cause of Allah? The two are not equal with Allah. Allah does not direct the wrong-doing folk to the Right Way.

Ahmed Ali

Do you think that giving a drink of water to the pilgrims and going on a visit to the Sacred Mosque, is the same as believing in God and the Last Day, and striving in the cause of God? In the eyes of God it is not the same; and God does not show the unrighteous the way.

Ahmed Raza Khan

So have they taken the quenching of the pilgrims’ thirst and servicing of the Sacred Mosque as equal (in merit) to him who accepted faith in Allah and the Last Day, and fought in Allah’s way? They are not equal before Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust.

Ali Quli Qarai

Do you regard the providing of water to Hajj pilgrims and the maintenance of the Holy Mosque as similar [in worth] to someone who has faith in Allah and [believes in] the Last Day and wages jihad in the way of Allah? They are not equal with Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing lot.

Ali Ünal

Do you consider providing water to the pilgrims and tending the Sacred Mosque as equal in value to one who believes in God and the Last Day, and strives in God’s cause? They are not equal in God’s sight. And God does not guide (to truth) the wrongdoing folk (whose measure and judgment are wrong).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Do you hold the giving of drink to the Pilgrims and keeping the Holy Mosque in a good and flourishing state as equal to (the deeds of) him who believes in Allâh and the Last Day and strives hard in the cause of Allâh? They are not equal in the sight of Allâh. Allâh guides not to ultimate success the people who have no sense of proportion.

English Literal

Did you make the pilgrimage`s drinking place/cup (water carrying) and tending to/visiting the Mosque the Forbidden/Sacred as who believed with God and the Day the Last/Resurrection Day, and struggled/exerted in God`s way/sake ? They do not become equal/alike at God, and God does not guide the nation the unjust/oppressive.

Faridul Haque

So have they taken the quenching of the pilgrims’ thirst and servicing of the Sacred Mosque as equal (in merit) to him who accepted faith in Allah and the Last Day, and fought in Allah’s way? They are not equal before Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust.

Hamid S. Aziz

Have you supposed that giving drink to the pilgrims and tending the Sacred Mosque are equal to believing in Allah and in the Last Day, and striving in the way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah, and Allah guides not a wrongdoing people.

Hilali & Khan

Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) 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? They are not equal before Allah. And Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Only he can maintain the mosques of Allah who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and keeps up prayer and pays the poor-rate and fears none but Allah. So these it is who may be of the guided ones.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

What! do you make (one who undertakes) the giving of drink to the pilgrims and the guarding of the Sacred Mosque like him who believes in Allah and the latter day and strives hard in Allah's way? They are not equal with Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust people.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Count ye the slaking of a pilgrim's thirst and tendance of the Inviolable Place of Worship as (equal to the worth of) him who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and striveth in the way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

Muhammad Sarwar

Do you (pagans), because you served water to the pilgrims and constructed the Sacred Mosque, consider yourselves equal to those who have believed in God, the Day of Judgment, and have fought for the cause of God? In the sight of God you (pagans) are not equal to the believers. God does not guide the unjust.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Do you consider giving drink to the pilgrims and inhabiting the Sacred Mosque is the same as one who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and struggles in the Way of Allah? These are not held equal by Allah. Allah does not guide the harmdoers.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

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

Wahiduddin Khan

Do you regard giving water to pilgrims and tending the Sacred Mosque as being equal to the deeds of those who believe in God and the Last Day and who strive in God's path? They are not equal in the sight of God. God does not guide such unjust people.

Talal Itani

Do you consider giving water to pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Mosque the same as believing in God and the Last Day and striving in God’s path? They are not equal in God’s sight. God does not guide the unjust people.

Tafsir jalalayn

Do you reckon the giving of water to pilgrims and the attendance of the Sacred Mosque, that is, [do you reckon] those who do such things, to be the same as he who believes in God and the Last Day and struggles in the way of God? They are not equal, in merit, in God's sight; and God guides not the evildoing, the disbelieving, folk; this was revealed to refute those who claimed this, such as al-`Abbs and others.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

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

أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ امَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ 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,

قَدْ كَانَتْ ءَايَـتِى تُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَكُنتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَـبِكُمْ تَنكِصُونَ

مُسْتَكْبِرِينَ بِهِ سَـمِراً تَهْجُرُونَ

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 يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ 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,

أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ امَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ

لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ


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

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,
أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ
(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,
أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ
(Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid Al-Haram), until,
لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللّهِ
(They are not equal before Allah).

Then Allah said;

الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَاهَدُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ اللّهِ وَأُوْلَيِكَ هُمُ الْفَايِزُونَ