and establish prayer”—and so on through the verses.

Al-Tirmidhī reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“If you see a man regularly attending the mosque, bear witness to his faith.” Then he recited this verse.

What is meant by maintaining mosques is maintaining them through worship within them, such as prayer and devotional retreat. A city is described as thriving when it is inhabited, and as desolate when no one lives there. The same usage occurs in the Exalted’s words:

“Do you consider providing water for pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Mosque equal to the deeds of one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and strives in Allah’s cause? They are not equal in Allah’s sight.”

As for the actual construction of mosques, they may be built by the righteous or the wicked, by Muslims or disbelievers. This is called building, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

Allah Most High thus made clear that those who associate partners with Him have no right to maintain Allah’s mosques while bearing witness against themselves to their disbelief. He also made clear that only those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakah, and fear none but Allah maintain them. This describes those who affirm Allah’s oneness and devote their religion sincerely to Him: they fear none but Allah, place their hopes in none but Him, seek help from none but Him, and invoke none but Him.

Those devoted to shrines, however, fear others besides Allah, place their hopes in others, and invoke others. He, glorified is He, did not say, “Only those … maintain Allah’s shrines.” Shrines are not houses of Allah; rather, they are houses where partners are associated with Him. Thus there is no verse in the Quran praising shrines, nor anything from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning