2. Surah al-Baqara

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ ...

2: 114. And who is more unjust than he who forbids that in places for the worship of Allah, Allah's name should be celebrated? -

C117. There were actually Pagans in Makkah who tried to shut out the Muslim Arabs from the Ka'bah, the universal place of Arab worship.

The Pagans themselves called it the House of Allah. With what face could they exclude the Muslims, who wanted to worship the true Allah instead of worshipping idols?

If these Pagans had succeeded, they would only have caused violent divisions among the Arabs and destroyed the sanctity and the very existence of the Ka'bah.

This verse taken in a general sense, establishes the principle of freedom of worship in a public mosque or place dedicated to the worship of Allah. This is recognised in Muslim law. (R).

... وَسَعَى فِي خَرَابِهَا...

Whose zeal is (in fact) to ruin them?

أُوْلَـئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَا إِلاَّ خَآئِفِينَ...

It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them except in fear.

... لهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١١٤﴾

For them there is nothing but disgrace in this world, and in the world to come, an exceeding torment.

Others version:

2: 114

Asad Hence, who could be more wicked than those who bar the mention of God’s name from [any of ] His houses of worship and strive for their ruin, [although] they have no right to enter them save in fear [of God]? (note 95)

For them, in this world, there is ignominy in store; and for them, in the life to come, awesome suffering.

Pickthall And who doth greater wrong than he who forbiddeth the approach to the sanctuaries of Allah lest His name should be mentioned therein, and striveth for their ruin? As for such, it was never meant that they should enter them except in fear. Theirs in the world is ignominy and theirs in the Hereafter is an awful doom.

Transliteration Wa man azlamu mimmam mana'a masa_jidalla_hi ay yuzkara fihas muhu_ wa sa'a_ fi khara_biha_, ula_'ika ma_ ka_na lahum ay yadkhulu_ha_ illal kha_'ifin(a), lahum fid dunya_ khizyuw wa lahum fil a_khirati 'aza_bun 'azim(un).

[ Asad’s note 95: It is one of the fundamental principles of Islam that every religion which has belief in God as its focal must accorded full respect, however much one may disagree with its particular tenets. Thus, the Muslims are under an obligation to honor and protect any house of worship dedicated to God, whether it be a mosque or a church or a synagogue

( cf, the second paragraph of 22:40 ); and any attempt to prevent the followers of another faith from worshipping God according to their own lights in condemned by the Quran as a sacrilege. A striking illustration of this principle is forthcoming from the Prophet’s treatment of the deputation from Christian Najran in the year 10H. They were given free access to the Prophet’s mosque, and with his full consent celebrated their religious rites there, although their adoration of Jesus as “the son of God” and of Mary as “the mother of God” was fundamentally at variance with Islamic beliefs (see Ibn Sad I/I, 84f.). ]

[Ruby’s note: I completely agree with what is being said in Asad’s note 95 to this verse (2:114), other translators have mentioned the incident of pagan who were trying to bar the Muslims from attending the Kaba. I think that is now what is implicated here specifically, even through that too comes under the general principle that all places of worship is sacred and no one should be barred or restricted. This verse is in the context of the Jews and Christians mentioned in the verse immediate before this one, and most importantly this verse does not mention wither Kaba or Pagan in this regard here.]

Why FEAR mentioned here in entering places of worship? I think this is meant for those who have this impulse or inclination of barring or destroying such places should feel the fear of God. Others should feel reverence and awe being there because God is worshipped in these places. Here these could very well be meant for the Churches and Synagogues or Temples, etc.]

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