“Have you made the giving of water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque equal to the deed of one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and strives in the way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (19)

His saying, exalted is He: “Have you made the giving of water to the pilgrims…”—the verse.

Abu Sa‘id Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Shurayhi informed us; Abu Ishaq Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Tha‘labi narrated to us; Abd Allah ibn Hamid ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan narrated to us; Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn Ubayd Allah al-Mu‘afiri narrated to us; Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn al-Ash‘ath al-Sijistani narrated to us; Abu Tawbah al-Rabi‘ ibn Nafi‘ al-Halabi narrated to us; Mu‘awiyah ibn Sallam narrated to us, from Zayd ibn Sallam, from Abu Sallam, who said: Al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir narrated to us: “I was near the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when one man said, ‘I do not care if I perform no deed after giving water to the pilgrims.’ Another said, ‘I do not care if I perform no deed after maintaining the Sacred Mosque.’ The other said, ‘Striving in the way of Allah is better than what you have both said.’ Thereupon Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, rebuked them and said, ‘Do not raise your voices near the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, especially on Friday. But once I have prayed, I shall go in and ask the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, for a ruling concerning that over which you differ.’ He did so, and Allah, exalted is He, revealed: ‘Have you made the giving of water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque…,’ up to His saying: ‘And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.’” (1)

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, said: “When al-Abbas was taken captive on the day of Badr, he said, ‘Even if you have preceded us in embracing Islam, emigrating, and striving in Allah’s way, we used to maintain the Sacred Mosque and provide water for the pilgrims.’ Allah Most High then revealed this verse, informing them that their maintenance of the Sacred Mosque and their undertaking of the watering of the pilgrims would not benefit them alongside associating partners with Allah, and that faith in Allah and striving alongside the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, are better than what they were upon.” (2)

Al-Hasan, al-Sha‘bi, and Muhammad ibn Ka‘b al-Qurazi said: It was revealed concerning Ali ibn Abi Talib, al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, and Talhah ibn Shaybah. They were boasting to one another, and Talhah said, “I am the keeper of the House; its key is in my hand.” Al-Abbas said, “I am responsible for providing water, and I oversee it.” Ali said, “I do not know what you are talking about. I prayed toward the qiblah six months before the people, and I am the one who strives in jihad.” Then Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse: “Have you made the giving of water to the pilgrims…” (3)