Spending time and money on apparent decoration

Lesson # 1051 from Holy Qur’aan

Spending time and money on apparent decoration

Surah ‘TAWBAH or BARAAA-‘AH (REPENTANCE) – Chapter – 9)

Stage – 2, Verse – 19 of 129, Section – 3 of 16 (Part – 10)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

19.  Count ye the slaking of a pilgrim’s thirst and tendance of the Inviolable Place of Worship as (equal to the worth of) him who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and striveth in the Way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

19.  ‘A-ja-‘altum  siqaa-yatal-Haaajji  wa  ‘imaaratal-Masjidil-Haraami  Kaman  ‘aamana  BIllaahi  wal-Yawmil-‘Aakhiri  wa jaahada  fii  Sabii-LIllaah.  Laa  yasta-wuuna  ‘indAllaah.  WAllaahu  laa  yahdil-qawmaz-zaalimiin.

Lesson

Siqaa-yatun – (to slake, to quench), this word has the same meaning as of the saq-yun. However, here it aims also “the place; where the water is slaked, as well as that utensil is siqaa-yatun too, with which someone is slaked, for example “a cup, glass or bowl etc”. Siqaa-yatun is such vessel or a little pond; in which the water is deposited for miscellaneous use. It is called siqaa-watun also.  

‘Imaarata – (to people, to colonize, making arrangements for the pilgtims), here it aims “to support and keep up apparent cheer”.

The Pagans were proud that they used to perform the hospitality of such people who come to Makkah for pilgrimage, provide them food and water, take care of their ease and comfort. For such places, there is a need of such matters, so that those people, who come to visit the sacred places, may stay with comfort, and the gaiety and merriment should increase.

It has been described in this verse that the actual works which are required to be performed, are some different from them, whichever they do. Those people are better than these, who consider that only outward hustle bustle, pomp and show are everything.

The actual works are “The man should believe in Allah Almighty and the Day of Resurrection; on which account of every individual’s actions shall be taken. After believing in God Almighty and the Last Day, now it is duty of every human being that he/she should try and strive with own soul and wealth; in the Way of Allah Almighty; and continue to do so during entire life time.

Those people who slake the thirsty pilgrims and arrange to colonize them in the vicinity of the Inviolable Place of Worship (Masjidil-Haraam), and those people who believe in God Almighty and the Last Day, and endow their entire life for the Cause of Allah Almighty, these both kinds of people cannot be equal.

Those; who consider them equal; have been tyrannizing themselves; as well as; God’s other creature. Allah Almighty does neither cause to know the Right Matter to the tyrants and nor show them the Straight Path. Those people should learn a lesson from this verse, who spend their time and money on outward decoration of the Mosques (Masaajid).  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)