9. Surah At Tawbah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَالَّذِينَ
اتَّخَذُواْ
مَسْجِدًا
ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا
وَتَفْرِيقًا
بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ...
9: 107. And there are those who put up a mosque by way of mischief and infidelity, to disunite the believers,
C1355. Three categories of Hypocrites having already been mentioned (n. 1354), a fourth class of insidious evil-doers is now mentioned, whose type is illustrated in the story of the Quba "Mosque of mischief (dirar)".
Quba is a suburb of Madinah about three miles to the south-east. When the Holy Prophet arrived at Madinah for Hijrah, he rested four days in Quba before entering the town of Madinah. Here was built the first mosque, the "Mosque of Piety" to which he frequently came during his subsequent stay in Madinah.
Taking advantage of these sacred associations, some Hypocrites of the Tribe of Bani Ghanam built an opposition mosque in Quba, pretending to advance Islam. In reality they were in league with a notorious enemy of Islam, one Abu 'Amir, who had fought against Islam at Uhud and who was now, after the battle of Hunain (A.H. 9), in Syria: his confederates wanted a mosque for him to come to, but it would only be a source of mischief and division, and the scheme was disapproved.
... وَإِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ مِن قَبْلُ...
and in preparation for one who warred against Allah and His Messenger aforetime.
C1356. Abu 'Amir, surnamed the Rahib (Monk), as he had been in touch with Christian monks.
See last note.
... وَلَيَحْلِفَنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلاَّ الْحُسْنَى...
They will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good;
... وَاللّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ ﴿١٠٧﴾
but Allah doth declare that they are certainly liars.
9: 108. Never stand thou forth therein.
... لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى التَّقْوَى مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ ...
There is a mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it is more worthy of thy standing forth (for prayer) therein.
C1357. The original "Mosque of Piety" built by the Holy Prophet himself.
... فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُواْ...
In it are men who love to be purified;
... وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِينَ ﴿١٠٨﴾
and Allah loveth those who make themselves pure.
C1358. The true Muslim must be pure in body, mind, and heart. His motives should always be sincere, and his religion without any alloy of worldly gain.
أَفَمَنْ أَسَّسَ
بُنْيَانَهُ
عَلَى تَقْوَى
مِنَ اللّهِ
وَرِضْوَانٍ
خَيْرٌ...
9: 109. Which then is best?
he that layeth his foundation on piety to Allah and His good pleasure?
... أَم مَّنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىَ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ ...
or he that layeth his foundation on an undermined sand-cliff ready to crumble to pieces?
C1359. A man who builds his life on Piety (which includes sincerity and the purity of all motives) and his hopes on the Good Pleasure of Allah, builds on a firm foundation of rock that will never be shaken. In contrast to him is the man who builds on a shifting sand-cliff on the brink of an abyss, already undermined by forces which he does not see.
The cliff and the foundations all crumble to pieces along with him, and he is plunged into the Fire of misery from which there is no escape.
... فَانْهَارَ بِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ ...
And it doth crumble to pieces with him, into the fire of Hell.
... وَاللّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٠٩﴾
And Allah guideth not people that do wrong.
9: 107
Pickthall And as for those who chose a place of worship out of opposition and disbelief, and in order to cause dissent among the believers, and as an outpost for those who warred against Allah and His messenger aforetime, they will surely swear: We purposed naught save good. Allah beareth witness that they verily are liars.
Yuksel Mosques That Promote Division and Falsehood
There are those who establish a temple to do harm and cause rejection, to cause division among those who acknowledge, and as an outpost for those who fought God and His messenger before. They will swear that they only wanted to do good, but God bears witness that they are liars.
Transliteration Wallazina-ttakhazu_ masjidan dira_raw wa kufraw wa tafriqam bainal mu'minina wa irsa_dal liman ha_raballa_ha wa rasu_laha_ min qabl(u), wa layahlifunna in aradna_ illal husna_, walla_hu yasyhadu innahum laka_zibu_n(a).
9: 108
Pickthall Never stand (to pray) there. A place of worship which was founded upon duty (to Allah) from the first day is more worthy that thou shouldst stand (to pray) therein, wherein are men who love to purify themselves. Allah loveth the purifiers.
Transliteration La_ taqum fihi abada_(n), lamasjidun ussisa 'alat taqwa_ min awwali yaumin ahaqqu an taqa_ma fih(i), fihi rija_luy yuhibbu_na ay yatatahharu_, walla_hu yuhibbul muttahhirin(a).
9: 109
Pickthall Is he who founded his building upon duty to Allah and His good pleasure better; or he who founded his building on the brink of a crumbling, overhanging precipice so that it toppled with him into the fire of hell? Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
Transliteration Afaman assasa bunya_nahu_ 'ala_ taqwa_ minalla_hi wa ridwa_nin khairun amman assasa bunya_nahu_ 'ala_ syafa_ jurufin ha_rin fa-nha_ra bihi fi na_ri jahannam(a), walla_hu la_ yahdil qaumaz za_limin(a).