Overview of the Verse “Did You Make the Watering of the Pilgrims”
The verse (أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ) appears in verse 19 of Surah At-Tawbah. This verse emphasizes that the true deserving individuals of maintaining the Sacred Mosque are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day.
The verse underlines the significance of faith in Allah and righteous deeds in general, highlighting particularly the merit of jihad for the sake of Allah over the acts of maintaining the Sacred Mosque and providing water to the pilgrims.
Context of the Revelation of “Did You Make the Watering of the Pilgrims”
This verse was revealed following a discussion among some companions who debated the superiority of watering the pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Mosque compared to other Islamic deeds. Upon hearing their conversation, the following revelation was made: (أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَن آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ).
Al-Nu’man ibn Bashir narrates: “I was by the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when a man said: ‘I do not care if I do no work after embracing Islam except for watering the pilgrims.’ Another said: ‘I do not mind if I do no work except for maintaining the Sacred Mosque.’ A third individual claimed: ‘Jihad for the sake of Allah is better than what you have said.’ Umar rebuked them, saying: ‘Do not raise your voices near the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on the day of Friday, but when I finish the Friday prayer, I will consult him regarding your disagreement.’ Then Allah Almighty revealed: {أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَن آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ}.
Interpretation of the Verse “Did You Make the Watering of the Pilgrims”
This blessed verse encompasses certain believers who preferred watering and maintaining the Sacred Mosque over jihad for the sake of Allah, as previously indicated. It also addressed the polytheists who vied and boasted about their provision of water to the pilgrims and their maintenance of the Sacred Mosque.
The verse illustrates the disparity between the reward for jihad in the path of Allah and that for maintaining the Sacred Mosque or watering the pilgrims, explicitly stating that equality in virtue does not hold true in the Divine scale. The superiority in the sight of Allah is attributed solely to those who possess genuine faith in Allah and strive to uphold His word for the sake of earning abundant rewards from Him.
The subsequent verse further clarifies this point: (الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ). Thus, those who truly believe in Allah, migrate from the land of disbelief to the land of faith to preserve their religion, and engage in jihad for the uplifting of Allah’s word with their wealth and lives, are granted higher ranks and a more honorable status in judgment compared to those engaged in merely watering the pilgrims or maintaining the Sacred Mosque.