مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ شَاهِدِينَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِم بِالْكُفْرِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ وَفِي النَّارِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ ١٧

It is not for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), to maintain the Mosques of Allah (i.e. to pray and worship Allah therein, to look after their cleanliness and their building, etc.), while they witness against their ownselves of disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide.

مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ

It is not for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah),

أَن يَعْمُرُوا مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ

to maintain the Mosques of Allah (i.e. to pray and worship Allah therein, to look after their cleanliness and their building, etc.),

شَاهِدِينَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِم بِالْكُفْرِ ۚ

while they witness against their ownselves of disbelief.

أُولَٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ

The works of such are in vain

وَفِي النَّارِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ

and in Fire shall they abide.

إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ ١٨

The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.

إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ

The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by

مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ

those who believe in Allah and the Last Day;

وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ

perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat),

وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ

and give Zakat

وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ

and fear none but Allah.

فَعَسَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ

It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.

۞ أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ١٩

Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) 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 Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).

۞ أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ

Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims

وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ

and the maintenance of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah)

كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ

as equal to the worth of those who believe in Allah and the Last Day

وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ

and strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah?

لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ

They are not equal before Allah.

وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

And Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).