Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah At-Taubah -> Believers are the True Maintainers of the Masjids

Allah said,

﴿إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ﴾

(The Masjids of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day.) Therefore, Allah testifies to the faith of those who maintain the Masjids. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that `Amr bin Maymun Al-Awdi said, "I met the Companions of the Prophet and they were saying, `The Masjids are the Houses of Allah on the earth. It is a promise from Allah that He is generous to those who visit Him in the Masjids.,'' Allah said next,

﴿وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَوةَ﴾

(perform the Salah), one of the major acts of worship practiced by the body,

﴿وَءَاتَى الزَّكَوةَ﴾

(and give the Zakah), which is the best act that benefits other people,

﴿وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ﴾

(and fear none but Allah), they fear only Allah, the Exalted, and none else,

﴿فَعَسَى أُوْلَـئِكَ أَن يَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ﴾

(It is they who are on true guidance.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement,

﴿إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَـجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ﴾

(The Masjids of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day;) "He who singles out Allah (in worship), has faith in the Last Day.'' ﴿And he said﴾; "He who believes in what Allah has revealed,

﴿وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَوةَ﴾

(perform the Salah), establishes the five daily prayers,

﴿وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ﴾

(and fear none but Allah.), worships Allah alone,

﴿فَعَسَى أُوْلَـئِكَ أَن يَكُونُواْ مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ﴾

(it may be they who are on true guidance.) Allah says, `It is they who are the successful ones in truth.' Similarly, Allah said to His Prophet ,

﴿عَسَى أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَاماً مَّحْمُودًا﴾

(It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqam Mahmud)﴿17:79﴾. Allah says here, `Your Lord (O Muhammad) shall grant you a station of praise, that is, the intercession (on the Day of Resurrection).' Every `might' in the Qur'an means `shall'.''

﴿أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ ءَامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَجَـهَدَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لاَ يَسْتَوُونَ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لاَ يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الظَّـلِمِينَ - الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَـهَدُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ اللَّهِ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ - يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُم بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَرِضْوَنٍ وَجَنَّـتٍ لَّهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُّقِيمٌ - خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَداً إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴾

(19. Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid Al-Haram as equal to the worth of those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah They are not equal before Allah. And Allah guides not those people who are the wrongdoers.) (20. Those who believed and emigrated and strove hard and fought in Allah's cause with their wealth and their lives, are far higher in degree with Allah. They are the successful.) (21. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of mercy from Him, and His being pleased (with them), and of Gardens (Paradise) for them wherein are everlasting delights.) (22. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward.)