the houses of Allah on earth. The Exalted has said:

“Say, ‘My Lord has commanded justice. Set your faces at every mosque and call upon Him, devoting your worship purely to Him. Just as He originated you, so will you return.’” (al-Aʿrāf 7:29)

He—glorified be He—also said:

“The mosques belong to Allah; so do not invoke anyone beside Allah.” (al-Jinn 72:18)

And He—glorified be He—said:

“It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allah while they testify against themselves to unbelief; all their deeds have come to nothing…” (al-Tawbah 9:17) — the verse continues up to His words: “…those who are guided.”

He—glorified be He—further said:

“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is…” (al-Nūr 24:35) — the verse continues up to His words: “…without measure.”

Then, after mentioning the believers, He turned to the disbelievers from among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, speaking of those afflicted with compounded ignorance and those with simple ignorance, and He—exalted is He—said: