Surah Baqarah ayat 114 Tafsir Quran 2:114

﴿وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَىٰ فِي خَرَابِهَا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَا إِلَّا خَائِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾
[ البقرة: 114]

2:114 And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allah from being mentioned in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.

And who does greater evil — that is none does more evil — than he who bars God’s places of worship so that His Name be not invoked in them in prayer and praise and strives to ruin them? through destruction and impeding people from them this was revealed to inform of the Byzantines’ destruction of the Holy House sc. Jerusalem or it was revealed when the idolaters barred the Prophet s from entering Mecca in the year of the battle of Hudaybiyya; such men might never enter them save in fear illā khā’ifīna is a predicate also functioning as a command that is to say ‘Frighten them by threats of waging war against them so that not one of them shall enter it feeling secure’; for them in this world is degradation debasement through being killed taken captive and forced to pay the jizya; and in the Hereafter a mighty chastisement namely the Fire.

And who is more wrong-minded than he who blocks the way to places of divine worship by placing obstacles and intends to destroy them in attempt to prevent religious observance and to preclude the adoration of Allahs Eternal Name Such persons were not to enter these places except secretly, fearing for their life. They shall suffer disgrace and multiple humiliations here, and be put to the torture Hereafter

Of the Most Unjust are Those Who prevent People from the Masjids and strive for their Ruin The Quraysh idolators are those who hindered the people from the Masjids of Allah and wanted to destroy them.
Ibn Jarir reported that Ibn Zayd said that Allah's statement, وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَى فِى خَرَابِهَآ ( And who are more unjust than those who forbid that Allah's Name be mentioned (i.e.
prayers and invocations ) in Allah's Masjids and strive for their ruin) is about the Quraysh idolators who prevented the Prophet from entering Makkah from Al-Hudaybiyyah, until he slaughtered the Hadi ( animal for sacrifice ) at Dhi-Tuwa.
He then agreed to a peace treaty with the idolators and said to them, ( No one before has ever prevented people from entering the House.
One would even see the killer of his father and brother, but would not prevent him (from entering the House of Allah ).) They said, "Whoever killed our fathers at Badr, shall never enter it while there is one of us alive." Allah's statement, وَسَعَى فِى خَرَابِهَآ ( and strive for their ruin ) means those who prevent whoever maintain the Masjids with Allah's remembrance and who visit Allah's House to perform Hajj and `Umrah.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Quraysh prevented the Prophet from praying at the Ka`bah in Al-Masjid Al-Haram, so Allah revealed, وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ ( And who are more unjust than those who forbid that Allah's Name be mentioned (i.e.
prayers and invocations ) in Allah's Masjids)" After Allah chastised the Jews and Christians, He also criticized the idolators who expelled the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions from Makkah, preventing them from praying in Al-Masjid Al-Haram, which they kept exclusively for their idols and polytheism.
Allah said, وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلاَّ يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُواْ أَوْلِيَآءَهُ إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُ إِلاَّ الْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( And why should not Allah punish them while they hinder (men ) from Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and they are not its guardians None can be its guardians except Al-Muttaqun ( the pious ), but most of them know not.) ( 8:34 ) مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُواْ مَسَاجِدَ الله شَـهِدِينَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِم بِالْكُفْرِ أُوْلَـئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـلُهُمْ وَفِى النَّارِ هُمْ خَـلِدُونَ - إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَوةَ وَءاتَى الزَّكَوةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ فَعَسَى أُوْلَـئِكَ أَن يَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ ( It is not for the Mushrikin (polytheists ), to maintain the Masjids of Allah while they witness against their own selves of disbelief.
The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide.
The Masjids of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform the Salah, and give the Zakah and fear none but Allah.
It is they who are on true guidance.) ( 9:17-18 ) and, هُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْهَدْىَ مَعْكُوفاً أَن يَبْلُغَ مَحِلَّهُ وَلَوْلاَ رِجَالٌ مُّؤْمِنُونَ وَنِسَآءٌ مُّؤْمِنَـتٌ لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوهُمْ أَن تَطَئُوهُمْ فَتُصِيبَكمْ مِّنْهُمْ مَّعَرَّةٌ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ لِّيُدْخِلَ اللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُواْ لَعَذَّبْنَا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً ( They are the ones who disbelieved and hindered you from Al-Masjid-Al-Haram (at Makkah ) and detained the sacrificial animals, from reaching their place of sacrifice.
Had there not been believing men and believing women whom you did not know, that you may kill them and on whose account a sin would have been committed by you without ( your ) knowledge, that Allah might bring into His mercy whom He wills ـ if they ( the believers and the disbelievers ) had been apart, We verily, would have punished those of them who disbelieved with painful torment) ( 48:25 ).
Therefore, Allah said here, إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَوةَ وَءاتَى الزَّكَوةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ ( The Masjids of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform the Salah, and give the Zakah and fear none but Allah ).
Therefore, if those believers who follow the virtues mentioned in the Ayah were prevented from attending the Masjid, then what cause for destruction is worse than this Maintaining the Masjids not only means beautifying them, but it involves remembering Allah, establishing His Shari`ah in the Masjids and purifying them from the filth of Shirk. The Good News that Islam shall prevail Allah said next, أُوْلَـئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلاَّ خَآئِفِينَ ( It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them (Allah's Masjids ) except in fear). This Ayah means, "Do not allow them - the disbelievers - to enter the Masjids, except to satisfy the terms of an armistice or a treaty." When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ conquered Makkah in 9 H, he commanded that someone announce at Mina, "After the current year, no idolators shall perform Hajj, and no naked persons shall perform Tawaf around the House, except for those who have a treaty.
In this case, the treaty will be carried to the end of its term." This Ayah supports the Ayah, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلاَ يَقْرَبُواْ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَـذَا ( O you who believe! (in Allah's Oneness and in His Messenger Muhammad )! Verily, the Mushrikun ( idolators ) are Najasun ( impure ).
So let them not come near Al-Masjid-Al-Haram ( at Makkah ) after this year) ( 9:28 ). It was also said that this Ayah ( 2:114 ) carries the good news for the Muslims from Allah that He will allow them to take over Al-Masjid Al-Haram and all the Masjids and disgrace the idolators.
Soon after, the Ayah indicated, no idolator shall enter the House, except out of fear of being seized or killed, unless he embraces Islam.
Allah fulfilled this promise and later decreed that idolators not be allowed to enter Al-Masjid Al-Haram.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated that no two religions should remain in the Arabian Peninsula, and the Jews and Christians should be expelled from it, all praise is due to Allah.
All of these rulings ensure maintaining the honor of Al-Masjid Al-Haram and purifying the area where Allah sent His Messenger to warn and bring good news to all of mankind, may Allah's peace and blessings be on him. This Ayah also described the disgrace that the disbelievers earn in this life, and that the punishment comes in a form comparable to the deed.
Just as they prevented the believers from entering Al-Masjid Al-Haram, they were prevented from entering it in turn.
Just as they expelled the believers from Makkah, they were in turn expelled from Makkah, وَلَهُمْ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ( and they will have a great torment in the Hereafter ) because they breached the sanctity of the House and brought filth to it by erecting idols all around it, invoking other than Allah and performing Tawaf around it while naked, etc. Here it is worth mentioning the Hadith about seeking refuge from disgrace in this life and the torment of the Hereafter.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Busr bin Artah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to supplicate,
«اللَّهُمَّ أَحْسِنْ عَاقِبَتَنَا فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا وَأَجِرْنَا مِنْ خِزْيِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الْآخِرَة»
( O Allah! Make our end better in all affairs, and save us from disgrace in this life and the torment of the Hereafter. ) This Hadith is Hasan.

(2:114) And who could be a greater wrongdoer than the one who forbids the mention of Allah's name in places of worship and strives for their ruin? Such people do not deserve to enter the places of worship, and, if they enter at all, they should do so in fear; *114 for there is ignominy for them in this world and an awful punishment in the Hereafter.

And who are more unjust than those meaning

*114).
Places of worship should properly remain in the custody of devout and God-fearing people, so that even if bad people did go there they would be deterred from committing misdeeds through fear of punishment.
This is a subtle reference to the wrong perpetrated by the unbelievers of Makka, who had barred their own compatriots - the Muslims - from worshipping in the House of God.

 

Of the Most Unjust are Those Who prevent People from the Masjids and strive for their Ruin The Quraysh idolators are those who hindered the people from the Masjids of Allah and wanted to destroy them.
Ibn Jarir reported that Ibn Zayd said that Allah's statement, وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَى فِى خَرَابِهَآ ( And who are more unjust than those who forbid that Allah's Name be mentioned (i.e.
prayers and invocations ) in Allah's Masjids and strive for their ruin) is about the Quraysh idolators who prevented the Prophet from entering Makkah from Al-Hudaybiyyah, until he slaughtered the Hadi ( animal for sacrifice ) at Dhi-Tuwa.
He then agreed to a peace treaty with the idolators and said to them, ( No one before has ever prevented people from entering the House.
One would even see the killer of his father and brother, but would not prevent him (from entering the House of Allah ).) They said, "Whoever killed our fathers at Badr, shall never enter it while there is one of us alive." Allah's statement, وَسَعَى فِى خَرَابِهَآ ( and strive for their ruin ) means those who prevent whoever maintain the Masjids with Allah's remembrance and who visit Allah's House to perform Hajj and `Umrah.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Quraysh prevented the Prophet from praying at the Ka`bah in Al-Masjid Al-Haram, so Allah revealed, وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ ( And who are more unjust than those who forbid that Allah's Name be mentioned (i.e.
prayers and invocations ) in Allah's Masjids)" After Allah chastised the Jews and Christians, He also criticized the idolators who expelled the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions from Makkah, preventing them from praying in Al-Masjid Al-Haram, which they kept exclusively for their idols and polytheism.
Allah said, وَمَا لَهُمْ أَلاَّ يُعَذِّبَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَا كَانُواْ أَوْلِيَآءَهُ إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُ إِلاَّ الْمُتَّقُونَ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( And why should not Allah punish them while they hinder (men ) from Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and they are not its guardians None can be its guardians except Al-Muttaqun ( the pious ), but most of them know not.) ( 8:34 ) مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُواْ مَسَاجِدَ الله شَـهِدِينَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِم بِالْكُفْرِ أُوْلَـئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـلُهُمْ وَفِى النَّارِ هُمْ خَـلِدُونَ - إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَوةَ وَءاتَى الزَّكَوةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ فَعَسَى أُوْلَـئِكَ أَن يَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ ( It is not for the Mushrikin (polytheists ), to maintain the Masjids of Allah while they witness against their own selves of disbelief.
The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide.
The Masjids of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform the Salah, and give the Zakah and fear none but Allah.
It is they who are on true guidance.) ( 9:17-18 ) and, هُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَالْهَدْىَ مَعْكُوفاً أَن يَبْلُغَ مَحِلَّهُ وَلَوْلاَ رِجَالٌ مُّؤْمِنُونَ وَنِسَآءٌ مُّؤْمِنَـتٌ لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوهُمْ أَن تَطَئُوهُمْ فَتُصِيبَكمْ مِّنْهُمْ مَّعَرَّةٌ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ لِّيُدْخِلَ اللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُواْ لَعَذَّبْنَا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْهُمْ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً ( They are the ones who disbelieved and hindered you from Al-Masjid-Al-Haram (at Makkah ) and detained the sacrificial animals, from reaching their place of sacrifice.
Had there not been believing men and believing women whom you did not know, that you may kill them and on whose account a sin would have been committed by you without ( your ) knowledge, that Allah might bring into His mercy whom He wills ـ if they ( the believers and the disbelievers ) had been apart, We verily, would have punished those of them who disbelieved with painful torment) ( 48:25 ).
Therefore, Allah said here, إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَوةَ وَءاتَى الزَّكَوةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ ( The Masjids of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform the Salah, and give the Zakah and fear none but Allah ).
Therefore, if those believers who follow the virtues mentioned in the Ayah were prevented from attending the Masjid, then what cause for destruction is worse than this Maintaining the Masjids not only means beautifying them, but it involves remembering Allah, establishing His Shari`ah in the Masjids and purifying them from the filth of Shirk. The Good News that Islam shall prevail Allah said next, أُوْلَـئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلاَّ خَآئِفِينَ ( It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them (Allah's Masjids ) except in fear). This Ayah means, "Do not allow them - the disbelievers - to enter the Masjids, except to satisfy the terms of an armistice or a treaty." When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ conquered Makkah in 9 H, he commanded that someone announce at Mina, "After the current year, no idolators shall perform Hajj, and no naked persons shall perform Tawaf around the House, except for those who have a treaty.
In this case, the treaty will be carried to the end of its term." This Ayah supports the Ayah, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلاَ يَقْرَبُواْ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَـذَا ( O you who believe! (in Allah's Oneness and in His Messenger Muhammad )! Verily, the Mushrikun ( idolators ) are Najasun ( impure ).
So let them not come near Al-Masjid-Al-Haram ( at Makkah ) after this year) ( 9:28 ). It was also said that this Ayah ( 2:114 ) carries the good news for the Muslims from Allah that He will allow them to take over Al-Masjid Al-Haram and all the Masjids and disgrace the idolators.
Soon after, the Ayah indicated, no idolator shall enter the House, except out of fear of being seized or killed, unless he embraces Islam.
Allah fulfilled this promise and later decreed that idolators not be allowed to enter Al-Masjid Al-Haram.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated that no two religions should remain in the Arabian Peninsula, and the Jews and Christians should be expelled from it, all praise is due to Allah.
All of these rulings ensure maintaining the honor of Al-Masjid Al-Haram and purifying the area where Allah sent His Messenger to warn and bring good news to all of mankind, may Allah's peace and blessings be on him. This Ayah also described the disgrace that the disbelievers earn in this life, and that the punishment comes in a form comparable to the deed.
Just as they prevented the believers from entering Al-Masjid Al-Haram, they were prevented from entering it in turn.
Just as they expelled the believers from Makkah, they were in turn expelled from Makkah, وَلَهُمْ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ( and they will have a great torment in the Hereafter ) because they breached the sanctity of the House and brought filth to it by erecting idols all around it, invoking other than Allah and performing Tawaf around it while naked, etc. Here it is worth mentioning the Hadith about seeking refuge from disgrace in this life and the torment of the Hereafter.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Busr bin Artah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to supplicate, «اللَّهُمَّ أَحْسِنْ عَاقِبَتَنَا فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا وَأَجِرْنَا مِنْ خِزْيِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الْآخِرَة» ( O Allah! Make our end better in all affairs, and save us from disgrace in this life and the torment of the Hereafter. ) This Hadith is Hasan.

Then He mentioned Tatus Ibn Asipanos al-Rumi, king of the Christians who destroyed Jerusalem, saying: ( And who doth greater wrong ) in his disbelief ( than he who forbideth the approach to the sanctuaries of Allah ) Jerusalem ( lest His name should be mentioned therein ) by declaring Allah’s Oneness and calling to prayer, ( and striveth for their ruin? ) in the ruin of Jerusalem by throwing carrions in it. And this lasted until the reign of ’Umar. ( As for such ) for the Romans, ( it was never meant that they should enter them ) Jerusalem ( except in fear ) hiding from the believers for fear of being killed, for they would be killed if found. ( Theirs in the world is ignominy ) a chastisement in that their cities, Constantinople, Amorium ( ’Ammuriyyah ) and Rome ( Rumiyyah ) would be ruined ( and theirs in the Hereafter is an awful doom ) more severe than the punishment they were subjected to in this world.

And who is more unjust than those who forbid that Allah's Name be glorified and mentioned much (i.e. prayers and invocations, etc.) in Allah's Mosques and strive for their ruin? It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them (Allah's Mosques) except in fear. For them there is disgrace in this world, and they will have a great torment in the Hereafter.

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