Quran Verses about Mosques

مَا كَانَ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ أَن يَعۡمُرُواْ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلۡكُفۡرِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلنَّارِ هُمۡ خَٰلِدُونَ ١٧

Mā kāna lil-mushrikīna ay yaʿmurū masājidallāhi shāhidīna ʿalā anfusihim bil-kufr, ulāʾika ḥabiṭat aʿmāluhum wa fin-nāri hum khālidūn.

It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allāh [while] witnessing against themselves with disbelief. [For] those, their deeds have become worthless, and in the Fire they will abide eternally.

إِنَّمَا يَعۡمُرُ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَلَمۡ يَخۡشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَۖ فَعَسَىٰٓ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَن يَكُونُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ ١٨

Innamā yaʿmuru masājidallāhi man āmana billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhiri wa aqāmaṣ-ṣalāta wa ātaz-zakāta wa lam yakhsha illallāh, faʿasā ulāʾika ay yakūnū minal-muhtadīn.

The mosques of Allāh are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allāh and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakāh and do not fear except Allāh, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.

۞ أَجَعَلۡتُمۡ سِقَايَةَ ٱلۡحَآجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ كَمَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَجَٰهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ لَا يَسۡتَوُۥنَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ١٩

Ajaʿaltum siqāyatal-ḥājji wa ʿimāratal-masjidil-ḥarāmi kaman āmana billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhiri wa jāhada fī sabīlillāh, lā yastawūna ʿindallāh, wallāhu lā yahdil-qawmaẓ-ẓālimīn.

Have you made the providing of water for the pilgrim and the maintenance of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām equal to [the deeds of] one who believes in Allāh and the Last Day and strives in the cause of Allāh? They are not equal in the sight of Allāh. And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.

فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ ٱللَّهُ أَن تُرۡفَعَ وَيُذۡكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسۡمُهُۥ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا بِٱلۡغُدُوِّ وَٱلۡأٓصَالِ ٣٦

Fī buyūtin adhinallāhu an turfaʿa wa yudhkara fīhasmuhū yusabbiḥu lahū fīhā bil-ghuduwwi wal-āṣāl.

[Such niches are] in houses [i.e., mosques] which Allāh has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned [i.e., praised] therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings¹

رِجَالٞ لَّا تُلۡهِيهِمۡ تِجَٰرَةٞ وَلَا بَيۡعٌ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءِ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوۡمٗا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرُ ٣٧

Rijālul lā tulhīhim tijāratuw wa lā bayʿun ʿan dhikrillāhi wa iqāmiṣ-ṣalāti wa ītāʾiz-zakāti yakhāfūna yawman tataqallabu fīhil-qulūbu wal-abṣār.

[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allāh and performance of prayer and giving of zakāh. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -

وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ أَن يُذۡكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسۡمُهُۥ وَسَعَىٰ فِي خَرَابِهَآۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمۡ أَن يَدۡخُلُوهَآ إِلَّا خَآئِفِينَۚ لَهُمۡ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا خِزۡيٞ وَلَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ ١١٤

Wa man aẓlamu mimmam manaʿa masājidallāhi ay yudhkara fīhasmuhū wa saʿā fī kharābihā, ulāʾika mā kāna lahum ay yadkhulūhā illā khāʾifīn, lahum fid-dunyā khizyuw wa lahum fil-ākhirati ʿadhābun ʿaẓīm.

And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allāh from being mentioned [i.e., praised] in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.

وَأَنَّ ٱلۡمَسَٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدۡعُواْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدٗا ١٨

Wa annal-masājida lillāhi falā tadʿū maʿallāhi aḥadā.

And [He revealed] that the masjids¹ are for Allāh, so do not invoke² with Allāh anyone.

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مَسۡجِدٗا ضِرَارٗا وَكُفۡرٗا وَتَفۡرِيقَۢا بَيۡنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَإِرۡصَادٗا لِّمَنۡ حَارَبَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُۚ وَلَيَحۡلِفُنَّ إِنۡ أَرَدۡنَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡهَدُ إِنَّهُمۡ لَكَٰذِبُونَ ١٠٧

Wal-ladhīnattakhadhū masjidan ḍirāraw wa kufraw wa tafrīqam baynal-muʾminīna wa irṣādal liman ḥāraballāha wa rasūlahū min qabl, wa layaḥlifunna in aradnā illal-ḥusnā, wallāhu yashhadu innahum lakādhibūn.

And [there are] those [hypocrites] who took for themselves a mosque for causing harm and disbelief and division among the believers and as a station for whoever had warred against Allāh and His Messenger before. And they will surely swear, "We intended only the best." And Allāh testifies that indeed they are liars.

لَا تَقُمۡ فِيهِ أَبَدٗاۚ لَّمَسۡجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ مِنۡ أَوَّلِ يَوۡمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٞ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُواْۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُطَّهِّرِينَ ١٠٨

Lā taqum fīhi abadā, lamasjidun ussisa ʿalat-taqwā min awwali yawmin aḥaqqu an taqūma fīh, fīhi rijāluy yuḥibbūna ay yataṭahharū, wallāhu yuḥibbul-muṭṭahhirīn.

Do not stand [for prayer] within it - ever. A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day¹ is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allāh loves those who purify themselves.

أَفَمَنۡ أَسَّسَ بُنۡيَٰنَهُۥ عَلَىٰ تَقۡوَىٰ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنٍ خَيۡرٌ أَم مَّنۡ أَسَّسَ بُنۡيَٰنَهُۥ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٖ فَٱنۡهَارَ بِهِۦ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ١٠٩

Afaman assasa bunyānahū ʿalā taqwā minallāhi wa riḍwānin khayrun am man assasa bunyānahū ʿalā shafā jurufin hārin fanhāra bihī fī nāri jahannam, wallāhu lā yahdil-qawmaẓ-ẓālimīn.

Then is one who laid the foundation of his building on righteousness [with fear] from Allāh and [seeking] His approval better or one who laid the foundation of his building on the edge of a bank about to collapse, so it collapsed with him into the fire of Hell? And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.

قُلۡ أَمَرَ رَبِّي بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَأَقِيمُواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسۡجِدٖ وَٱدۡعُوهُ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمۡ تَعُودُونَ ٢٩

Qul amara rabbī bil-qisṭ, wa aqīmū wujūhakum ʿinda kulli masjidiw wadʿūhu mukhliṣīna lahud-dīn, kamā badaʾakum taʿūdūn.

Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you direct yourselves [to the Qiblah] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in religion." Just as He originated you, you will return [to life] -

۞ يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمۡ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسۡجِدٖ وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ وَلَا تُسۡرِفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ ٣١

Yābanī ādama khudhū zīnatakum ʿinda kulli masjidiw wa kulū washrabū wa lā tusrifū, innahū lā yuḥibbul-musrifīn.

O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid,¹ and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.

وَإِذۡ جَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡبَيۡتَ مَثَابَةٗ لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمۡنٗا وَٱتَّخِذُواْ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ مُصَلّٗىۖ وَعَهِدۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيۡتِيَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلۡعَٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ١٢٥

Wa idh jaʿalnal-bayta mathābatal lin-nāsi wa amnaw wattakhidhū mim maqāmi ibrāhīma muṣallā, wa ʿahidnā ilā ibrāhīma wa ismāʿīla an ṭahhirā baytiya liṭ-ṭāʾifīna wal-ʿākifīna war-rukkaʿis-sujūd.

And [mention] when We made the House [i.e., the Kaʿbah] a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform ṭawāf¹ and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]."

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيۡتٖ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكٗا وَهُدٗى لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٩٦

Inna awwala baytiw wuḍiʿa lin-nāsi lalladhī bibakkata mubārakaw wa hudal lil-ʿālamīn.

Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah [i.e., Makkah] - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُشۡرِكُونَ نَجَسٞ فَلَا يَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدَ ٱلۡحَرَامَ بَعۡدَ عَامِهِمۡ هَٰذَاۚ وَإِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ عَيۡلَةٗ فَسَوۡفَ يُغۡنِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦٓ إِن شَآءَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٞ ٢٨

Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū innamal-mushrikūna najasun falā yaqrabul-masjidal-ḥarāma baʿda ʿāmihim hādhā, wa in khiftum ʿaylatan fasawfa yughnīkumullāhu min faḍlihī in shāʾ, innallāha ʿalīmun ḥakīm.

O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Ḥarām after this, their [final] year. And if you fear privation, Allāh will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَسۡرَىٰ بِعَبۡدِهِۦ لَيۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡأَقۡصَا ٱلَّذِي بَٰرَكۡنَا حَوۡلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَآۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ ١

Subḥānal-ladhī asrā biʿabdihī laylam minal-masjidil-ḥarāmi ilal-masjidil-aqṣal-ladhī bāraknā ḥawlahū linuriyahū min āyātinā, innahū huwas-samīʿul-baṣīr.

Exalted¹ is He who took His Servant [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] by night from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā,² whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing,³ the Seeing.⁴

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلۡنَٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَآءً ٱلۡعَٰكِفُ فِيهِ وَٱلۡبَادِۚ وَمَن يُرِدۡ فِيهِ بِإِلۡحَادِۭ بِظُلۡمٖ نُّذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٖ ٢٥

Innal-ladhīna kafarū wa yaṣuddūna ʿan sabīlillāhi wal-masjidil-ḥarāmil-ladhī jaʿalnāhu lin-nāsi sawāʾanil-ʿākifu fīhi wal-bād, wa may yurid fīhi biʾilḥādim biẓulmin nudhiqhu min ʿadhābin alīm.

Indeed, those who have disbelieved and avert [people] from the way of Allāh and [from] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, which We made for the people - equal are the resident therein and one from outside - and [also] whoever intends [a deed] therein¹ of deviation [in religion] by wrongdoing - We will make him taste of a painful punishment.

وَإِذۡ بَوَّأۡنَا لِإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ أَن لَّا تُشۡرِكۡ بِي شَيۡـٔٗا وَطَهِّرۡ بَيۡتِيَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلۡقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ٢٦

Wa idh bawwaʾnā liʾibrāhīma makānal-bayti al lā tushrik bī shayʾaw wa ṭahhir baytiya liṭ-ṭāʾifīna wal-qāʾimīna war-rukkaʿis-sujūd.

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform ṭawāf¹ and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.