Who Are the True Maintainers of Allah’s Mosques? Insights from Tafsir As-Sa’di
BELIEVERS ARE THE TRUE MAINTAINERS OF THE MASJIDS
ALLĀH tells us who the rightful caretakers of the mosques of ALLĀH are:
إِنَّمَا يَعۡمُرُ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ
“The mosques of ALLĀH are only to be maintained by those who believe in ALLĀH and the Last Day and establish prayer”
both obligatory and supererogatory, in the proper manner, both outwardly and inwardly
وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
“and give zakāh” to those who are entitled to receive it
وَلَمۡ يَخۡشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَۖ
“and do not fear except ALLĀH” that is, their fear is focused on their Lord, so they refrain from that which ALLĀH has prohibited and they do not fall short in their obligatory duties towards ALLĀH.
HE describes them as having beneficial faith and doing righteous deeds, the most important of which are prayer and zakah, and as fearing ALLĀH, which is the foundation of all good. These are the true keepers of the mosques and their people to whom they belong.
{Tafsir As-Sa’di}