Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:17

This refers to the Sacred Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram), based on His saying: "And maintenance of the Sacred Mosque." Regarding the reading in the plural (masajid), there are two interpretations:

1. The Sacred Mosque is intended: It is called "mosques" because it is the Qibla of all mosques and their leader; whoever maintains it is like one who maintains all mosques. Furthermore, every spot within it is a mosque.
2. The genus (category) of mosques is intended: If they are not fit to maintain the category of mosques, then it follows that they are not fit to maintain the Sacred Mosque, which is the head and forefront of that category. This is more emphatic, as it follows the method of metonymy (kinayah). It is like saying, "So-and-so does not read the books of Allah," which is a stronger negation of his reading the Quran than if you had stated it explicitly.

{Witnessing against themselves with disbelief} This is a circumstantial qualifier (hal) for the pronoun in {to maintain}. The meaning is: It is not appropriate for them to combine two contradictory things: maintaining the places of worship of Allah while simultaneously disbelieving in Allah and His worship.

The meaning of their witnessing against themselves with disbelief is the manifestation of their disbelief. They set up their idols around the House, circumambulated it naked, and would say, "We will not circumambulate it in clothes in which we have committed sins." Every time they completed a circuit, they would prostrate to them. It is also said that this refers to their saying: "At your service, You have no partner, except a partner who is Yours; You possess him and all that he possesses."

It is also said: The Emigrants (Muhajirun) and Helpers (Ansar) turned toward the captives of Badr and reproached them for their polytheism. Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) began to rebuke al-Abbas for fighting the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and severing ties of kinship, speaking harshly to him. Al-Abbas replied, "You mention our bad deeds and conceal our good deeds." Ali asked, "Do you have good deeds?" They replied, "Yes, and we are superior to you in reward. We maintain the Sacred Mosque, provide curtaining for the Kaaba, give water to the pilgrims, and free the captive."

Thereupon, this was revealed: {Their deeds have become worthless}—meaning the maintenance, the curtaining, the watering, and the freeing of captives. If disbelief or a major sin nullifies established, valid deeds when it follows them, what then do you think of deeds accompanied by disbelief?

This is what is indicated by His saying: {Witnessing}, as He made it a circumstantial qualifier for them, showing that they were combining maintenance with witnessing against themselves with disbelief at the same time, which is impossible and invalid.

{The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakah, and fear none but Allah. For it is expected that those will be among the [rightly] guided.}