At-Tawba 9:17 · SocialQuran

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ · 9:17

MedinanRevelation order ١١٣Juzʾ ١٠Page ١٨٩

مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا۟ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ خَٰلِدُونَ

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Saheeh International · EN

It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allah [while] witnessing against themselves with disbelief. [For] those, their deeds have become worthless, and in the Fire they will abide eternally.

Introduction Revelation Tafsir Transmission Debate

Bio

Introduction

This is āyah 17 of Sūrat At-Tawba (The Repentance), the 113th sūrah in the traditional order of revelation. It was revealed in the Medinan period and sits within Juzʾ 10. Medinan verses often address community life, law, and the building of society.

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Bio

Revelation & occasion

Asbāb al-Nuzūl

Period: Medinan
Order revealed: 113 of 114
Surah: At-Tawba (9)

Occasion of revelation · Al-Wahidi

(It is not for the idolaters to tend Allah�s sanctuaries�) [9:17]. The commentators of the Qur�an said: �When al-�Abbas [ibn �Abd al-Muttalib] was taken prisoner on the Day of Badr, the Muslims went over to him and insulted him for his unbelief as well as for severing his ties of kinship, and �Ali [ibn Abi Talib] addressed him in a harsh way. Al-�Abbas answered them: �How is it that you mention our evil deeds but you do not mention our good deeds?� �Ali retorted: �Do you have any good deeds?� He replied: �Yes, we tend to the Sacred Mosque, serve as gatekeepers of the Ka�bah, provide water for the pilgrims, and relieve the afflicted�. Allah, glorious and majestic is He, revealed as an answer to al-�Abbas (It is not for the idolaters to tend Allah�s sanctuaries)�.

Commentary

Tafsir

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Hafiz Ibn Kathir

It is not for the Mushrikin, to maintain the Masjids of Allah, while they witness against themselves of disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide (17)The Masjids of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform the Salah, and give Zakah and fear none but Allah. It is they who are on true guidance (18) It is not for Idolators to maintain the Masjids of Allah Allah says that it is not fitting that those who associate others with Allah in worship should maintain the Masjids of Allah that were built in His Name alone without partners. Those who read the Ayah, "Masjid Allah", said that it refers to Al-Masjid Al-Haram, the most honored Masjid on the earth, which was built, from the first day, for the purpose of worshipping Allah alone without partners. It was built by Khalil Ar-Rahman (the Prophet Ibrahim) peace be upon him…

Provenance

Chains of transmission

Oral — isnād

~610–632 CERevelation & memorisation
Received by the Prophet ﷺ and preserved by the ḥuffāẓ (memorisers) among the Companions.
1st century AHMutawātir transmissionawaiting curation
Carried by mass-transmission through the generations of qurrāʾ.
TodayLiving chainsawaiting curation
Continuous ijāzah chains link reciters today back to the Prophet ﷺ.

Verified isnād chains for this āyah will be added by curators.

Written — the manuscript record

~650 CEʿUthmānic codicesawaiting curation
The standardised muṣḥaf sent to the great cities (e.g. the Topkapı and Samarqand codices).
8th–10th c.Early Ḥijāzī & Kūfic foliosawaiting curation
Surviving leaves in Birmingham, Sanaa, Paris (BnF) and beyond.
Modern printModern printawaiting curation
The 1924 Cairo edition → today: the standard printed muṣḥaf used worldwide.

A curated chain of manuscript images for this exact āyah — roughly one per century — is coming. Help us source and verify them.

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Provenance

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