Surah Al-Hajj 22:25

A Warning to Those Who hinder Others from the Path of Allah and from Al-Masj id Al-Haram and Who seek to do Evil Actions therein

Allah rebukes the disbelievers for preventing the believers from coming to Al-Masjid Al-Haram and performing their rites and rituals there, claiming that they were its guardians,

وَمَا كَانُواْ أَوْلِيَآءَهُ إِنْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُ إِلاَّ الْمُتَّقُونَ

(and they are not its guardians. None can be its guardians except those who have Taqwa) 8:34. In this Ayah there is proof that it was revealed in Al-Madinah, as Allah says in Surat Al-Baqarah:

يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ اللَّهِ

(They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months. Say, "Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) with Allah is to prevent mankind from following the way of Allah, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and to drive out its inhabitants) 2:217 And Allah says here:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ

(Verily, those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the path of Allah, and from Al-Masjid Al-Haram) meaning, not only are they disbelievers, but they also hinder people from the path of Allah and from Al-Masjid Al-Haram. They prevent the believers who want to go there from reaching it, although the believers have more right than anyone else to go there. The structure of this phrase is like that to be found in the Ayah:

الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

(Those who believed, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.) 13:28 Not only are they believers, but their hearts also find rest in the remembrance of Allah.

The Issue of renting Houses in Makkah

الَّذِى جَعَلْنَـهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ

(which We have made (open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there) meaning that they prevent people from reaching Al-Masjid Al-Haram, which Allah has made equally accessible to all in Shari`ah, with no differentiation between those who live there and those who live far away from it.

سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ

(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there,) Part of this equality is that everyone has equal access to all parts of the city and can live there, as `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas concerning the Ayah:

سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ

(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there,) He Ibn `Abbas said: "Both the people of Makkah and others can stay in Al-Masjid Al-Haram."

سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ

(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there,) Mujahid said, "The people of Makkah and others are equally allowed to stay there." This was also the view of Abu Salih, `Abdur-Rahman bin Sabit and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated from Ma`mar, from Qatadah who said: "Its own people and others are equal therein." This is the issue about which Ash-Shafi`i and Ishaq bin Rahwayh differed in the Masjid of Al-Khayf, when Ahmad bin Hanbal was also present. Ash-Shafi`i was of the opinion that the various parts of Makkah can be owned, inherited and rented, and he used as evidence the Hadith of Usamah bin Zayd who said, "I said, O Messenger of Allah, will you go and stay tomorrow in your house in Makkah" He said,

«وَهَلْ تَرَكَ لَنَا عَقِيلٌ مِنْ رِبَاعٍ؟»

(Has `Aqil left us any property) Then he said,

«لَا يَرِثُ الْكَافِرُ الْمُسْلِمَ وَلَا الْمُسْلِمُ الْكَافِر»

(A disbeliever does not inherit from a Muslim and a Muslim does not inherit from a disbeliever.) This Hadith was recorded in the Two Sahihs. He also used as evidence the report that `Umar bin Al-Khattab bought a house in Makkah from Safwan bin Umayyah for four thousand Dinars, and made it into a prison. This was also the view of Tawus and `Amr bin Dinar. Ishaq bin Rahwayh was of the opinion that they (houses in Makkah) could not be inherited or rented. This was the view of a number of the Salaf, and Mujahid and `Ata' said likewise. Ishaq bin Rahwayh used as evidence the report recorded by Ibn Majah from `Alqamah bin Nadlah who said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr and `Umar died, and nobody claimed any property in Makkah except the grazing animals. Whoever needed to live there would take up residence there, and whoever did not need to live there would let others take up residence there." `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "It is not allowed to sell or rent the houses of Makkah." He also said, narrating from Ibn Jurayj: "`Ata' would not allow people to charge rent in the Haram, and he told me that `Umar bin Al-Khattab did not allow people to put gates on the houses of Makkah because the pilgrims used to stay in their courtyards. The first person to put a gate on his house was Suhayl bin `Amr. `Umar bin Al-Khattab sent for him about that and he said, `Listen to me, O Commander of the faithful, I am a man who engages in trade and I want to protect my back.' He said, `Then you may do that."' `Abdur-Razzaq recorded from Mujahid that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "O people of Makkah, do not put gates on your houses, and let the bedouins stay wherever they want." He said: Ma`mar told us, narrating from someone who heard `Ata' say about the Ayah, x

سَوَآءً الْعَـكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ

(the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there, ) "They may stay wherever they want." Ad-Daraqutni recorded a saying reported from `Abdullah bin `Amr: "Whoever charges rent for the houses of Makkah, consumes fire." Imam Ahmad took a middle path, according to what his son Salih narrated from him, and he said, "They may be owned and inherited, but they should not be rented, so as to reconcile between all the proofs." And Allah knows best.

A Warning to Those Who want to commit Evil Actions in the Haram

وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُّذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment.)

بِظُلْمٍ

(or to do wrong,) means, he aims deliberately to do wrong, and it is not the matter of misunderstanding. As Ibn Jurayj said narrating from Ibn `Abbas, "This means someone whose actions are intentional." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "The evil action of Shirk." Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "The evil action is allowing in the Haram what Allah has forbidden, such as mistreating and killing, whereby you do wrong to those who have done you no wrong and you kill those who have not fought you. If a person does this, then he deserves to suffer a painful torment."

بِظُلْمٍ

(or to do wrong,) Mujahid said, "To do some bad action therein. This is one of the unique features of Al-Haram, that the person who is about to do some evil action should be punished if this is his intention, even if he has not yet commenced the action." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded in his Tafsir that `Abdullah (i.e., Ibn Mas`ud) commented about the Ayah,

وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ

(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong,) "If a man intends to do some evil action therein, Allah will make him taste a painful torment." This was also recorded by Ahmad. I say, its chain is Sahih according to the conditions of Al-Bukhari, and it is more likely Mawquf than Marfu`. And Allah knows best. Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "Insulting a servant and anything more than that is (counted as) wrongdoing." Habib bin Abi Thabit said:

وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ

(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong,) "Hoarding (goods) in Makkah." This was also the view of others.

وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ

(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong,) Ibn `Abbas said, "This was revealed about `Abdullah bin Unays. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent him with two men, one of whom was a Muhajir and the other from among the Ansar. They began to boast about their lineages and `Abdullah bin Unays got angry and killed the Ansari. Then he reverted from Islam (became an apostate) and fled to Makkah. Then these words were revealed concerning him:

وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ

(and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong,) meaning, whoever flees to Al-Haram to do evil actions, i.e., by leaving Islam." These reports indicate some meanings of the phrase "evil actions", but the meaning is more general than that and includes things which are more serious. Hence when the owners of the Elephant planned to destroy the House (the Ka`bah), Allah sent against them birds in flocks,

تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ - فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولِ

(Striking them with stones of Sijjil. And He made them like (an empty field of) stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by cattle).) 105:4-5. means He destroyed them and made them a lesson and a warning for everyone who intends to commit evil actions there. Hence it was reported in a Hadith that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«يَغْزُو هَذَا الْبَيْتَ جَيْشٌ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ خُسِفَ بِأَوَّلِهِمْ وَآخِرِهِم»

(This House will be attacked by an army, then when they are in a wide open space, the first of them and the last of them will be swallowed up by the earth.)

Menurut riwayat Ibnu 'Abbas ra ayat ini sesungguhnya diturunkan berhubungan dengan Abi Sufyan bin Harb dan kawan-kawannya. Mereka itu menghalang-halangi Rasulullah saw dan para sahabat memasuki Masjidil Haram untuk melakukan ibadah umrah di tahun "perdamaian Hudaibiyah". Karena itu Rasulullah enggan untuk memerangi mereka karena Rasulullah berada dalam keadaan ihram. Kemudian terjadilah kesepakatan yang melahirkan perjanjian Hudaibiyah, yang di dalamnya tercantum bahwa Rasulullah tidak jadi umrah di tahun itu, akan tetapi ditangguhkan sampai tahun depan dan mereka tidak akan menghalangi Nabi dan sahabatnya masuk Masjidil Haram untuk mengerjakan ibadah, pada tahun yang akan datang.

Ayat ini menerangkan bahwa semua orang yang mengingkari keesaan dan kekuasaan Allah, mendustakan rasul dan meningkari agama yang dibawanya, menghalang-halangi manusia masuk agama Islam dan menegakkan kalimat Allah, menghalang-halangi kaum Muslimin masuk Masjidil Haram untuk beribadat, baik orang-orang penduduk Mekah asli maupun pendatang dari negeri lain dan menghalang-halangi orang beribadat di dalamnya, niscaya Allah akan menimpakan kepada mereka azab yang sangat pedih.

Dari ayat di atas dipahami bahwa Masjidil Haram yang terletak di sekitar Ka'bah adalah suatu tempat bagi kaum Muslimin untuk mengerjakan ibadah haji, umrah serta ibadah-ibadah yang lain, seperti tawaf, salat, i'tikaf, zikir, dan sebagainya, baik mereka yang berasal dari Mekah sendiri maupun yang berasal dari luar Mekah. Dengan perkataan lain, bahwa semua kaum Muslimin berhak melakukan ibadah di tempat itu, darimana pun mereka datang. Allah mengancam dengan azab yang keras terhadap orang-orang yang mencegah dan menghalang-halanginya. Karena itu ada di antara para ulama yang mempersoalkan kedudukan tanah yang berada di sekitar Masjidil Haram itu, apakah tanah itu dapat dimiliki oleh perseorangan atau pemerintah, atau tanah itu merupakan hak seluruh kaum Muslimin. Untuk pengaturannya sekarang diserahkan kepada Kerajaan Arab Saudi, karena Masjidil Haram terletak di negara ini, selama negara tersebut melaksanakan perintah-perintah Allah melayani orang-orang yang ingin beribadah di sana.

Menurut Imam Mujahid dan Malik, Masjidil Haram itu adalah milik kaum Muslimin seluruhnya, tidak seorang pun atau sesuatu negara pun yang boleh memilikinya. Pendapat ini juga diikuti oleh Imam Abu Hanifah, alasan mereka ialah perkataan baik "yang bermukim maupun yang berkunjung" berarti Masjidil Haram dijadikan bagi manusia, agar mereka menghormatinya, beribadah di sana baik bagi orang-orang Mekah maupun orang-orang yang berasal dari luar Mekah.

Karena itu tidak dapat dikatakan bahwa penduduk Mekah lebih berhak atas Masjidil Haram itu dari penduduk dari luar Mekah.

Alasan-alasan mereka yang lain ialah:

1. Menurut riwayat, bahwa Umar, Ibnu 'Abbas dan banyak sahabat berpendapat, "Para pengunjung Masjidil Haram boleh menempati rumah-rumah yang didapatinya kosong, belum berpenghuni di Mekah, dan orang-orang Mekah sendiri yang mempunyai rumah kosong itu, hendaklah mengizinkannya."

2. Hadis Nabi Muhammad saw:

Dari Abdullah bin Umar, ia berkata, "Rasulullah berkata, "Mekah itu pemberian, tidak boleh dijual hasilnya dan tidak boleh disewakan rumahnya. (Riwayat ad-Daruquthni)

3. Dan hadis Nabi saw lagi: Dari 'Aisyah ra ia berkata, "Ya Rasulullah, bolehkah aku buatkan untukmu rumah di Mina atau rumah yang dapat melindungi engkau dari terik panas matahari? Beliau menjawab, "Tidak, sesungguhnya tanah itu adalah hadiah bagi orang yang lebih dahulu mendapatkannya." (Riwayat Abu Daud)

4. Menurut suatu riwayat, pada permulaan Islam, Masjidil Haram tidak mempunyai pintu-pintu masuk, sehingga sampai pada suatu masa, banyak pencuri berdatangan, lalu seorang laki-laki membuat pintu-pintu, tetapi Umar melarangnya dan berkata, "Apakah kamu menutup pintu-pintu orang-orang berhaji ke Baitullah? Laki-laki itu menjawab, Aku membuat pintu-pintu untuk memelihara barang-barang pengunjung dari pencuri." Karena itu Umar ra membiarkannya.

Imam Syafi'i berpendapat bahwa tanah sekitar Masjidil Haram itu boleh dimiliki dan diperjual-belikan, asal tidak menghalangi kaum Muslimin beribadah di sana.

Dari Umamah bin Zaid, dia berkata, "Wahai Rasulullah bolehkah aku besok berkunjung ke rumahmu di Mekah? Rasulullah menjawab, "Apakah keluarga Aqil meninggalkan rumah? (Riwayat asy-Syaikhan)

Perbedaan pendapat ini berpangkal pada persoalan; Apakah Nabi Muhammad dan para sahabat pada saat penaklukan kota Mekah (fathu Makkah) dengan cara kekerasan atau dengan cara damai? Jika direbut dari tangan orang-orang musyrik dengan kekerasan, tentulah tanah sekitar Masjidil Haram itu merupakan harta rampasan bagi kaum Muslimin yang harus dibagi-bagi sesuai dengan ketentuan agama. Tetapi Rasulullah tidak membagi-baginya, sehingga tetaplah tanah itu merupakan milik bagi kaum Muslimin sampai saat ini. Hal seperti ini pernah pula dilakukan oleh Sayidina 'Umar pada suatu daerah yang telah direbutnya dari orang-orang kafir. Pendapat kedua menyatakan bahwa tanah Mekah itu direbut Nabi Muhammad saw dengan cara damai, karena itu ia bukan merupakan barang rampasan, dan tetap menjadi milik empunya waktu itu. Kemudian diwariskan atau dijual oleh pemiliknya yang dahulu, sehingga menjadi milik dari pembeli pada saat ini.

Sekalipun ada perbedaan pendapat yang demikian, namun para ulama sependapat bahwa Masjidil Haram merupakan tempat beribadah bagi seluruh kaum Muslimin yang datang dari seluruh penjuru dunia. Mereka boleh datang kapan saja mereka kehendaki, tanpa seorang pun yang boleh mengganggu dan menghalanginya. Jika berlawanan kepentingan pribadi atau golongan dengan kepentingan agama Islam, maka kepentingan agama Islam yang harus diutamakan dan diprioritaskan. Tentu saja kaum Muslimin yang telah bermukim dan menjadi penduduk Mekah itu berhak dan boleh mencari nafkah dari hasil usaha mereka melayani dan mengurus jama'ah haji yang datang dari segenap penjuru dunia. Sekalipun demikian, usaha mengurus dan melayani jama'ah haji itu, tidak boleh dikomersilkan, tetapi semata-mata dilakukan untuk mencari pahala yang besar.

Masjidil Haram sebagai tempat yang suci dan kiblat umat Islam, memiliki keistimewaan dan kelebihan-kelebihan, di antaranya adalah:

a.Di tempat tersebut orang yang baru berencana saja untuk berbuat maksiat/makar, maka Allah akan mengazabnya. Ibnu Mas'ud, Ibnu 'Umar, ad-dhahhak dan Ibnu Zaid, menyatakan bahwa bila seseorang sedang berada di Masjidil Haram, kemudian dia berencana untuk membunuh seseorang yang tinggal di Aden, maka Allah akan mengazabnya.

b.Ibadah yang dilakukan di Masjidil Haram mempunyai nilai tambah dibandingkan dengan ibadah di tempat-tempat lain, bahkan satu kali salat di Masjidil Haram nilainya sama dengan seratus ribu kali salat di luar Masjidil Haram. Rusulullah bersabda: Dari Jabir bahwa Rasulullah berkata, "Salat di masjidku (Masjid Nabawi) lebih utama seribu kali dibandingkan dengan salat di luar masjidku, kecuali di Masjidil Haram. Dan salat di Masjidil Haram lebih utama seratus ribu kali dibandingkan salat di luar Masjidil Haram. (Riwayat Ahmad dengan sanad sahih)