(إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ…) (The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by…): Maintaining the mosques here either means frequenting the mosque, or taking care of the its building. However, building of the essence of those who prostrates in the places of worship is the most important. This refers to the development of the individuals and the construction of values and morals within them. Thus, those who are eligible to tend to Hish Mosques are as follows:

(…مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ…) (those who believe in Allah and the Last Day): The pillars of faith are to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and in divine decree, both the good and the bad. As Allah (swt) describes those who maintain the mosques by being believers in Him, this description encompasses the entire meanings of faith; the belief in Allah summarizes the entire concept of faith. Then comes the belief in the Last Day, where individuals will be held accountable for their deeds and the sincerity of their faith. As the Prophet (saws) said:

” Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is the branch of faith.,”[1]

(…وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ…) (And establish prayer and give zakah):  Establishing prayer is a declaration of ongoing loyalty to Allah, and there is no excuse for a Muslim to leave it. It is the cornerstone of the religion, as the Prophet (saws) said:

” …The root of this matter (foundation) is Islam, its pillar (mainstay is) As-Salat (the prayer)…”[2]

Establishing prayer involves performing it with its pillars, conditions, obligations, sunnahs, facing the qiblah, doing ablution, and maintaining purity, as instructed by the Prophet (saws). Therefore, this verse encompasses two pillars of Iman: faith in Allah and believing in the Last Day. It encompasses too two pillars of Islam: Establishing prayer and giving zakah,

(…وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ…) (And they do not fear except Allah.): It is natural for someone who undertakes all these acts of faith to fear none but Allah (swt). Why did Allah (swt) say “and they do not fear except Allah” in this context?

The answer is that there are many who engage in building mosques may do so for the purpose of gaining recognition and boasting about their contributions. Therefore, Allah (swt) emphasizes that mosques are dedicated to Him (swt) alone, and one should not invoke anyone else alongside Him, as He says:

 وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًا

(And that the mosques are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone) (Al-Jinn: 18)

Therefore, the deeds must be done sincerely for the sake of Allah (swt). Whoever builds mosques for Allah, he is the one who believes in Him, believes in the Last Day, establishes prayer, pays zakat, and, most importantly, fears none but Allah (swt). He should understand that strength is in the hands of Allah, and harm or benefit can only come with His permission.

[1] Sahih Muslim: The Book of Faith, Chapter: The Explanation of the Number of Branches of Faith, Hadith no. 35

[2] Sunan Nasa’i: The Book of Tafseer, The Chapter of Surah As-Sajdah, Hadith no. 11394