Indeed, those who have disbelieved and avert [people] from the way of Allāh and [from] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, which We made for the people - equal are the resident therein and one from outside - and [also] whoever intends [a deed] therein922 of deviation [in religion] by wrongdoing - We will make him taste of a painful punishment.
Notes
[922] Whether inside its boundaries or intending from afar to do evil therein. The Ḥaram is unique in that the mere intention of sin therein (whether or not it is actually carried out) is sufficient to bring punishment from Allāh.
Verse 25 of Surah Al-Hajj (22:25), a Medinan surah, is in juz 17, on page 335 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
Listen to verse 25 of Surah Al-Hajj
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Tafsir of verse 25
Al-Mukhtasar
Those who disbelieved in Allah, turn others away from entering Islam and stop people from the Sacred Mosque, like what the idolaters did in the year of Hudaiybiyah, that mosque which I made a direction for people in their prayers and one of the rites of Hajj and Umrah, and in which the person from Makkah who lives there and one who comes there besides the people of Makkah are the same; whoever intends to purposefully commit a shameful sin therein, I will make him taste a painful punishment.
As for those who disbelieve and prevent people from Allah’s way and from the Sacred Mosque15 – which We have made for all people, residents and visitors alike – and whoever intends to deviate therein16 by evildoing, We will cause him to taste a painful punishment.
Notes
[15] In Makkah. [16] As the Sacred Mosque is unique, so mere intention of sin therein is sufficient to bring Allah's punishment.
Verily, those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh, and from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there [as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage (Hajj and ‘Umrah)] - and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islâmic Monotheism), him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment.
Lo! those who disbelieve and bar (men) from the way of Allah and from the Inviolable Place of Worship, which We have appointed for mankind together, the dweller therein and the nomad: whosoever seeketh wrongful partiality therein, him We shall cause to taste a painful doom.
As to those who have rejected (Allah), and would keep back (men) from the Way of Allah, and from the Sacred Mosque, which We have made (open) to (all) men - equal is the dweller there and the visitor from the country - and any whose purpose therein is profanity or wrong-doing - them will We cause to taste of a most Grievous Penalty.
Surely (as for) those who disbelieve, and hinder (men) from Allah's way and from the Sacred Mosque which We have made equally for all men, (for) the dweller therein and (for) the visitor, and whoever shall incline therein to wrong unjustly, We will make him taste of a painful chastisement.
Surely the ones who have disbelieved and bar from the way of Allah and the Inviolable Mosque that We have made equal to mankind- (alike are) him who consecrates himself therein and the nomad- (The Sabaeans) and whoever would (dare) blasphemy therein unjustly, (Christians) We will let him taste (his share) of a painful torment.
Regarding the statement of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic: {And whoever intends to deviate therein by evildoing, We will cause him to taste a painful punishment} [Surat al-Hajj: 25], he said: "If a man intended to commit deviation in it while being in Adan of Abyan (a city in Yemen), Allah would…
‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb reported from his father, who reported from his grandfather: The most rebellious of people against Allah, Exalted and Glorified, is someone who kills another in the sacred precincts of Allah; kills someone other than his killer; or someone kills someone out of a pre-Islamic…
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah says: 'If My slave intends to do an evil deed, do not write it down until he does it. If he does it, then write it as it is. If he does not do it for My Sake, then write…
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «يقول اللهُ: إذا أراد عبدي أنْ يعملَ سيئةً، فلا تكتبوها عليه حتى يعملَها، فإنْ عَمِلها فاكتبوها بمثلِها، وإنْ تركها مِن أجلي فاكتبوها له حسنةً، وإذا أراد أنْ يعملَ حسنةً فلم يعملها…
But why should Allāh not punish them while they obstruct [people] from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām and they were not [fit to be] its guardians? Its [true] guardians are not but the righteous, but most of them do not know.
They ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allāh and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allāh. And fitnah is greater than killing." And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
The ones who prefer the worldly life over the Hereafter and avert [people] from the way of Allāh, seeking to make it [seem] deviant. Those are in extreme error.
And do not be like those who came forth from their homes insolently and to be seen by people and avert [them] from the way of Allāh. And Allāh is encompassing of what they do.
O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allāh. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allāh - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
