Transliteration:( Aja'altum siqaayatal haaajji wa 'imaaratal masjidil haraami kamman aamana billaahi wal Yawmil Aakhiri wa jaahada fee sabeelil laah; laa yastawoona 'indal laah; wallaahu laa yahdil qawmaz zaalimeen )
Then do you consider the offering of water to the pilgrims and service of the Sacred Mosque equal [41] to one who believes [42] in Allah and the Last Day and fights in the path of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. And Allah does not guide the unjust people [43].
The polytheists of Makkah would taunt the emigrant Muslims, saying that they had abandoned the Ka'bah yet claimed to serve it. In response, Allah revealed this verse, making it clear that true worship is not in rituals without faith, but in sacrifice and sincerity for the sake of Allah.
From this, we learn that Allah Himself defends His sincere servants, responding directly to their critics. SubhanAllah! This reflects the loftiest level of Divine nearness and honor.
This verse teaches that obedience to the Holy Prophet ﷺ is the highest form of worship. The Emigrant Muslims (Muhajirun) were declared superior to those who remained in Makkah merely to serve the Ka'bah.
The Makkans served the House of Allah,
But the Emigrants served the Beloved of Allah ﷺ, the Pride of the Ka'bah.
A profound distinction is drawn here:
The one who sees the Ka'bah becomes a Haji (Pilgrim), but the one who sees the Pride of the Ka'bah ﷺ becomes a Sahabi (Companion).
Thus, millions of pilgrims are not equal to the dust under the feet of a single Sahabi.
This part emphasizes that no act of worship or service—whether providing water to pilgrims or maintaining the Ka'bah—is accepted without faith.
Faith is the prerequisite for the acceptance of all deeds.
Just as there is no prayer without Wudu, similarly there is no worship without Imaan.
Hence, those without belief—no matter how much outward service they provide—are not guided by Allah, as faith is the foundational condition for Divine acceptance.
19. Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid Al-Haram as equal to the worth of those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah They are not equal before Allah. And Allah guides not those people who are the wrongdoers. 20. Those who believed and emigrated and strove hard and fought in Allah’s cause with their wealth and their lives, are far higher in degree with Allah. They are the successful. 21. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of mercy from Him, and His being pleased (with them), and of Gardens (Paradise) for them wherein are everlasting delights. 22. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward.
In his Tafsir, Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas explained this Ayah: “The idolators said, `Maintaining Al-Masjid Al-Haram and providing water for pilgrims are better than embracing the faith and performing Jihad.’ They used to boast and show off among the people because they claimed, they were the people and maintainers of Al-Masjid Al-Haram. Allah mentioned their arrogance and rejection (of the faith), saying to `the people of Al-Haram’, who were idolators,
(Indeed My Ayat used to be recited to you, but you used to turn back on your heels (denying them, and refusing to listen to them with hatred). In pride, talking evil about it (the Qur’an) by night.) ﴿23:66-67﴾. They used to boast about being those who maintained the Sacred Sanctuary,
(talking about it by night). They used to talk about this by night while shunning the Qur’an and the Prophet . Allah declared that faith and Jihad with the Prophet are better than the idolators’ maintaining Al-Masjid Al-Haram and providing water for pilgrims. These actions — maintaining and serving Allah’s House — will not benefit them with Allah because they associate others with Him. Allah the Exalted said,
(They are not equal before Allah. And Allah guides not those people who are the wrongdoers.) those who claimed they are the maintainers of the House. Allah described them with injustice, on account of their Shirk, and thus, their maintaining the Masjid will not avail them.” `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, “This Ayah was revealed about Al-`Abbas bin `Abdul-Muttalib, for when he was captured in the battle of Badr, he said, `If you rushed before us to embrace Islam, perform Hijrah and Jihad, we were maintaining Al-Masjid Al-Haram, providing water for the pilgrims and setting the indebted free.’ Allah, the Exalted and Ever High, said,
(Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims), until,
(and Allah guides not those people who are the wrongdoers). Allah says, `All these actions were performed while committing Shirk, and I do not accept the (good deeds) that are performed while in a state of Shirk.”’ Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, “Muslims came to Al-`Abbas and his friends who were captured during the battle of Badr and admonished them for their Shirk. Al-`Abbas said, `By Allah! We used to maintain Al-Masjid Al-Haram, release the indebted, serve the House (or cover it, or maintain it) and provide water for pilgrims.’ Allah revealed this verse,
(Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims…)”’ There is a Hadith ﴿from the Prophet ﴾ about the Tafsir of this Ayah that we should mention. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that An-Nu`man bin Bashir said that a man said, “I do not care if I do not perform an action after embracing Islam other than providing drinking water for pilgrims ﴿who visit the Ka`bah at Makkah﴾.” Another man said, “I do not care if I do not perform an action after embracing Islam other than maintaining Al-Masjid Al-Haram.” A third man said, “Jihad in the cause of Allah is more righteous than what you have said.” `Umar admonished them, “Do not raise your voices next to the Minbar of the Messenger of Allah,” and as it was a Friday, he said, “but after we pray the Friday prayer, we will go to the Prophet and ask him.” This verse was revealed,
(Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid Al-Haram), until,
(They are not equal before Allah. )
(9:19) Do you consider providing water to the Pilgrims and tending the Sacred Mosque equal in worth to believing in Allah and the Last Day and striving in the cause of Allah?[21] The two are not equal with Allah. Allah does not direct the wrong-doing folk to the Right Way.
21. This question has been posed to bring home the fact that the guardianship of a shrine or attendance at it or other religious acts that are done for show, and are exploited by worldly people to establish and maintain the show of their piety, have no value whatsoever in the sight of Allah. The real worth of a person with Allah is that he should be sincere in his beliefs and make sacrifices in the Way of Allah, no matter whether he enjoys or does not enjoy such distinctions or happens to descend or not from a family of saints. On the contrary, those people who lack these excellences have no value with Allah, no matter whether they be the descendants of saints or inherit the guardianship of shrines from a long line of saints, or perform some religious acts for show on special occasions. And it is not lawful in any way that the guardianship, etc. of sacred places and institutions should be left in the hands of these worthless people just because they happen to inhere such rights from their forefathers.
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