وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ وَسَعَىٰ فِى خَرَابِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلَّا خَآئِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ 114
Translations
And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allāh from being mentioned [i.e., praised] 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.
Transliteration
Wa man azlamu mimman mana'a masajida Allahi an yudhkara fiha ismuhu wa sa'a fi kharabiha. Ula'ika ma kana lahum an yadkhuluhaa illa kha'ifin. Lahum fi ad-dunya khizyu wa lahum fi al-akhirati adhaban azim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who prevent the remembrance of Allah in His mosques and actively work toward their destruction, considering such an act among the greatest injustices. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to the historical opposition of disbelievers (particularly the Quraysh and later Christian tribes) who sought to prevent Muslim worship in the Masjid al-Haram and other sacred spaces. The ayah declares that such oppressors will enter these mosques only in fear and shame, and will face humiliation in this world and severe punishment in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period and is contextually related to the Quraysh's attempts to prevent Muslims from worshipping freely at the Ka'bah and other mosques. It forms part of Al-Baqarah's broader discussion of the Quraysh's persecution of early Muslims and their obstruction of the Islamic faith, establishing the sanctity and inviolability of places of worship in Islam.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of deeds is prayer at its time, and kindness to parents, and striving in the way of Allah' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized the sanctity of mosques: 'Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house like it in Paradise' (Sahih Muslim 533).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that preventing or hindering worship of Allah is among the gravest sins, while it also reassures believers that those who persecute the faithful and desecrate places of worship will ultimately face divine justice. For modern believers, this reinforces the importance of protecting the sanctity of mosques and maintaining places of worship as centers of spiritual devotion.