Transliteration:( Laa yazaalu bunyaanu humul lazee banaw reebatan fee quloobihim illaaa an taqatta'a quloobuhum; wal laahu 'Aleemun Hakeem )
“The building, which they have built, will continue to waver [307] in their hearts until their hearts may be cut [308] into pieces. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.”
This verse indicates that the hypocrites who constructed Masjid Dirar will continue to feel sorrow and regret over its demolition until death, whether they die naturally or are killed. The remorse and agitation caused by the loss of what they built with hidden malice will persist in their hearts, reflecting their spiritual instability and internal guilt.
The phrase “until their hearts may be cut into pieces” symbolizes either their emotional collapse from the humiliation of being exposed as hypocrites or until they sincerely repent and become true believers. The verse teaches that faith and sincerity are the only cures for infidelity and hypocrisy.
It also illustrates that even the company of a Prophet ﷺ cannot cure inherent wretchedness if the heart itself is not receptive to guidance. If the presence of the Prophet ﷺ cannot purify such a soul, then nothing else can, unless Allah wills.
The verse ends with a critical reminder: Mischief must be uprooted, even if it takes the form of something seemingly noble, like a mosque. Since Masjid Dirar was the root cause of discord, it had to be demolished. However, if mischief arises within a good place, such as a sincere mosque or community, the cause of the mischief should be removed—not the entire structure. This highlights the wisdom and balance in Islamic governance.
The tafsir of Surah Taubah verse 110 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Taubah ayat 109 which provides the complete commentary from verse 109 through 110.
(9:110) And the structure which they have erected will ever inspire their hearts with doubts unless it be that their very hearts are cut into pieces.[105] Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
105. That is, these hypocrites have deprived their hearts of the capability of receiving and accepting faith by the commission of the most heinous sin of building a mosque to do harm to that very Islam for the propagation of which mosques are built. This crime has set the desire of disbelief so deep in their hearts that it will remain there as long as they are alive and will leave them only at the time of death when their hearts will cease to beat in their breasts. Obviously, the case of such people is quite different from that of those unbelievers, who openly build idol-temples or openly make preparations for war against God. For it is possible that such a one may get guidance just because he is honest, sincere and bold. Moreover, his open antagonism shows that he has the courage of his convictions and may, therefore, accept Islam, when he would be convinced of its truth. But there is no hope for that cowardly lying and cunning man who builds a mosque for the service of kufr and puts on the garb of God’s worship for fighting against Allah’s Way. This is because a conduct like this kills all the noble sentiments within him and renders him utterly incapable of understanding and accepting Islam.
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