People of every religion build places for worship

Lesson # 1050 from Holy Qur’aan

People of every religion build places for worship

Surah ‘TAWBAH or BARAAA-‘AH (REPENTANCE) – Chapter – 9)

Stage – 2, Verse – 18 of 129, Section – 3 of 16 (Part – 10)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

18.  He only shall tend Allah’s sanctuaries who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and observeth proper Worship and payeth the Poor-due and feareth none save Allah; for such (only) is it possible that they can be of the rightly guided.

18.  ‘Inna-maa  ya’-muru  masaaji-dAllaahi  man  ‘aamana  BIllaahi  wal- Yawmil-‘Aakhiri  wa  ‘aqaamas-Salaata  wa  ‘aataz-Zakaata  wa lam  yakhsha  ‘illAllaah.  Fa-‘asaaa  ‘ulaaa-‘ika  ‘any-yakuunuu  minal-  Muhtadiin.

Lesson

It is commanded: What is the plea that the idolaters have taken possession of Masjidil-Haraam (The Inviolable Place of Worship)? It was result of their possession at that time that hundreds of idols were decorated in the Square Building of Makkah and those were being adorned one after the other, whereas, Masjid is constructed for the worship of God Almighty only.

Therefore, as per rule, the trustee and guardian of the Masjid (Mosque) can be only that individual who accepts and believes in Allah Almighty, and follows those prescribed instructions of His worship; which He has revealed on His Chosen Servants (peace be upon them). Along with it, that person should also have certain faith in the Day of Resurrection, offer the prayer according to prescribed method, spend his wealth in the Way of God Almighty in accordance with the Revelation (pay the Poor-due @ 2-1/2% of his wealth yearly and regularly) and fear none except God Almighty.

The idolaters have turned away from God (Allah) Almighty and gone astray from the Straight Path. Now there is no chance of their returning unto the Right Path. What will they do save it that they will damage the Masjid? However, those people whose characteristics have been explained above, that is to say; Believers of Allah Almighty and the Last Day, observers of the worship properly and regularly, payers of the poor-due and those who fear God only. These are the people who may be hopeful of being on the Straight Path and it can be expected from them that they will keep the Masaajid (Mosques) habitable and populous regularly and right way.

The people of every religion build places of worship. But how can it be correct that which place has been constructed for the worship of God, someone else, who is not worshipper of God but idolater, seizes it? They are authorized to worship, of whom they desire, in their places of worship, but the place which has been chosen for the worship of God Almighty, their seizure of such place is not suitable in any condition, otherwise real purpose of it is lost.

We should look into ourselves and think that whether; are we able to be claimants of Masaajid according to this verse or otherwise? Whether our quarrels are not for personal respect and unreligious purposes only?   

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)