Day—those who have truly believed with their hearts, acted with their limbs, and reserved their awe exclusively for Him. To such people He affirmed the right to maintain the mosques after having denied it to the idolaters, for the upkeep of the mosques can be achieved only through obedience and righteous deeds. As for the idolater, even if he does good works, his deeds are “like a mirage in a desert plain that a thirsty person thinks is water, until, when he comes to it, he finds nothing” 1 or “like ashes scattered by a furious wind on a stormy day.” 2 Deeds of that sort are worse than non-existence.
Hence a mosque will not stand in a sound and flourishing state unless it is supported by righteous action founded on sincerity, pure monotheism, and a sound creed free from idolatry, innovated practices, and superstitions. Its maintenance is not simply a matter of bricks, ornate decoration, and imposing architecture, nor of building it over graves—for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed whoever did that.
Concerning His words, “and feared none but Allah,” Ibn ʿAtiyyah said: he means the fear that entails glorification, worship, and willing obedience, though a person will inevitably fear worldly dangers. Muʿāwiyah wrote to the Mother of the Believers ʿĀʾishah asking her to write him a brief letter of advice. ʿĀʾishah replied:
“To Muʿāwiyah: Peace be upon you. To proceed: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, ‘Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure at the cost of people’s displeasure, Allah will spare him the burden of the people; and whoever seeks people’s pleasure at the cost of Allah’s displeasure, Allah will consign him to the people.’ Peace.”
Abū Nuʿaym narrated it in al-Ḥilyah, and Ibn Ḥibbān included it in his Ṣaḥīḥ with the wording: “Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure at the cost of people’s displeasure, Allah will be pleased with him and will cause the people to be pleased with him; and whoever seeks people’s pleasure at the cost of Allah’s displeasure, Allah will be angered with him and will cause the people to be angry with him.”
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah said: “ʿĀʾishah wrote to Muʿāwiyah—and it is reported that she attributed it to the Prophet—‘Whoever pleases Allah at the cost of people’s anger, Allah will spare him the burden of the people; and whoever pleases the people at the cost of Allah’s anger, they will be of no benefit to him before Allah.’ This is the wording traced back to the Prophet …”