THE SANCTUARY OF MAKKAH (Masjed al Haraam) 22: 25

Image via Wikipedia Makkah Mukarramah seen from Jabal al Nur

Surah Hajj 22:25              إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ الَّذِي جَعَلْنَاهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَاءً الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ ۚ وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُّذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Transliteration 25:             Inna allatheena kafaroo wayasuddoona AAan sabeeli Allahi waalmasjidi alharami allathee jaAAalnahu lilnnasi sawaan alAAakifu feehi waalbadi waman yurid feehi biilhadin bithulmin nuthiqhu min AAathabin aleemin

Urdu 25:             بے شک جو منکر ہوئے اور لوگوں کو الله کے راستہ اور مسجد حرام سے روکتے ہیں جسے ہم نے سب لوگو ں کے لیے بنایا ہے وہاں اس جگہ کا رہنے والا اورباہروالادونوں برابر ہیں اور جو وہاں ظلم سے کجروی کرنا چاہے تو ہم اسے دردناک عذاب چکھائیں گے

As to those who have rejected (Allah) and would keep back (men) from the Way of Allah, and from the Sacred Mosque, which We have made (open) to (all) men― equal is the dweller there and the visitor from the country― and any whose purpose therein is profanity wrong-doing― them will We cause to taste of a most grievous Penalty. (25)

TAFSEER by Dr. Farhat Hashmi, Surah Hajj: 22:25

People who stop others from entering the Masjed Al Haraam (this includes the precincts of Makkah) for worship are promised a severe Punishment from Allah Subhanawataala.

Allah has made this place for the worship for all believers. This permission of worship is not only limited to those who live in Makkah but as well as those who come from outside the precincts of Makkah. Both these groups have the right to worship in Makkah equally.

The one who will make an intention of deviation from the path (e.g. leaving the Deen or are “bey Deen” or commit Shirk sometimes even in the name of Deen) and will do Dhulm by this act of prevention. Allah promises that to those who are place an impediment to those who come to worship in the Haram He will give them a taste of severe Punishment.

Thus no one has the permission to prevent worship in Makkah as it is a Sanctuary.

Thus is the rule that prohibits hurting animals or luring them out of the precincts to hurt them and to destroy foliage in Makkah within the precincts of the Haram.

Fighting is not permitted in the precincts even undue or unnecessary carrying of arms is prohibited. Thus any one even if he is a criminal once he seeks sanctuary in the Haram cannot be touched as long as he or she is within the Haram.

Preventing people from worship in the Haram is a crime.

Elsewhere in the Quran Allah Subhanawataala says:

2: 217 يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ ۖ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعُوا ۚ وَمَن يَرْتَدِدْ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

Transliteration 217:             Yasaloonaka AAani alshshahri alharami qitalin feehi qul qitalun feehi kabeerun wasaddun AAan sabeeli Allahi wakufrun bihi waalmasjidi alharami waikhraju ahlihi minhu akbaru AAinda Allahi waalfitnatu akbaru mina alqatli wala yazaloona yuqatiloonakum hatta yaruddookum AAan deenikum ini istataAAoo waman yartadid minkum AAan deenihi fayamut wahuwa kafirun faolaika habitat aAAmaluhum fee alddunya waalakhirati waolaika ashabu alnnari hum feeha khalidoon

Yusuf Ali 217:             They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: “Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members.” Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein.

End Tafseer