Al-Masjid al-Haraam has a special place in the hearts of Muslims. There is no Muslim who does not desire to visit this exalted House and perform Tawaaf around it. Allah, the Most High, has promised great blessings and rewards for those who honor and respect al-Masjid al-Haraam. I therefore thought it appropriate to highlight the honors of al-Masjid al-Haraam in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, especially since many Muslims will visit al-Masjid al-Haraam.

Allah says: “And whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practice polytheism and leave Islamic Monotheism), him We shall cause him to taste a painful torment.” [Soorah al-Hajj (22): 29]

This verse is a warning to those who want to commit evil. Nay, this verse refers to all those who even intends to do evil in al-Masjid al-Haraam. Ibn Mas’ood (radhi allahu anhu) said: “If someone intends to do some evil action therein, Allah will make him taste a painful torment.” [Musnad Ahmad v:1, no: 428 and at-Tabaree 18: 600]

And what is this evil for which Allah threatens with a painful torment? We find the answer in the narration of Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu), where he says: “The evil actions of Shirk.” [at-Tabaree 18: 600] and in another narration he (radhi allahu anhu) said: “The evil action is allowing in al-Haraam 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.” [at-Tabaree 18: 600]

Mujahid said: “(i.e. meaning of the words ‘or to do wrong’ is) to do some bad action therein. This is one of the unique features of al Masjid al-Haraam, that the person who is about to do some evil action, he should be punished if this is his intention, even if he has not yet commenced the action.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

Hence, we see that when the owners of elephants (i.e. Abrahah al-Ashram, governor of Yemen) planned to demolish the Kaa’ba, Allah sent against them birds in flocks: “Striking them with stones of Sijjil. And (Allah) made them like an empty field of stalks (of which corn has been eaten up by cattle).” [Soorah al-Fil (105): 4-5] Thus, Allah destroyed them and made them a lesson and warning for everyone who intends to commit evil actions therein. Thus, if such is the punishment of those who even intend to do evil act, then one can imagine how great and fearful will be the punishment of those who actually commit evil and lewd acts in this exalted place, which Allah refers as ‘Baytul-Allah’ meaning “Allah’s House”

One might ask that the Muslims firmly believe that Allah, the Exalted is High upon His Throne above the seven Heavens, and not present among His creation, then why is al-Masjid al-Haraam entitled as ‘House of Allah’? This is to distinguish and honor al-Masjid al-Haraam, just as we find Allah described the camel, which he sent to the people of Thamud as Allah’s camel: “And O my people! This she-camel of Allah is a sign to you...” [Soorah Hud (11): 64]

Consequently, the honor of al-Masjid al-Haraam is to worship Allah alone and avoid all forms of shirk, vain talk, lying, backbiting, cursing etc. “and whoever honors the sacred things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Lord…” [Soorah al-Hajj (22): 30]

This verse elaborates the rewards of honoring al-Masjid al-Haraam, which is avoiding sins. Whoever avoids disobeying Allah and does not transgress that which is sacred and regards committing sin as a very serious matter, then he will attain much good and great reward for doing so. Just as the one who does acts of obedience will earn a great reward, so too, the one who avoids sins will earn a great reward. “So shun the rites of idols (i.e. Shirk), and shun false speech. Hunafa Lillah, not associating partners unto Him.” [Soorah al-Hajj (22): 31]

Allah mentioned Shirk in conjunction with false speech, which shows its (bad speech and vain talk) grave prohibition, and he said in another verse: “Say: ‘(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are al-Fawahish (immoral sins) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners with Allah for which He has given no authority and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.” [Soorah A’raf (7): 33]

This prohibition also includes, false witness. Once, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) lead the Fajr prayer and he stood up and said: “Bearing false witness is on a par with the association of others with Allah.” Then he recited: “So shun the rites of idols (i.e. Shirk), and shun false speech. Hunafa Lillah, not associating partners unto Him.” [Musnad Ahmad vol: 4, no: 321]

It is recorded in the two Saheehs from Abu Bakrah that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Shall I not tell you about the worst of Major sins?” We said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam).” he said: “Associating others with Allah, disobeying one’s parents.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]

Thus, Hunafa Lillah means sincerely submitting to Allah alone, shunning falsehood and seeking the truth, then Allah gives a likeness of the idolater in his misguidance and being doomed and being far away from the true guidance saying: “and whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds caught him in midair, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.” [Soorah al-Hajj (22): 31] Hence, we find in the Hadeeth of al-Bara (radhi allahu anhu): “...When the Angels of death take the soul of the disbeliever in death, they take his soul up to the Heaven, but the gates of Heaven are not opened for him, on the contrary, his soul is throws down from there.” [Musnad Ahmad vol: 4, no: 287]