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wa-mā lahum ʾallā yuʿadhdhibahumu llāhu wa-hum yaṣuddūna ʿani l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi wa-mā kānū ʾawliyāʾahū ʾin ʾawliyāʾuhū ʾillā l-muttaqūna wa-lākinna ʾaktharahum lā yaʿlamūna
What [excuse] have they that Allah should not punish them, when they bar [the faithful] from the Holy Mosque, and they are not its custodians? Its custodians are only the Godwary, but most of them do not know.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Anfal – Verse 34
34 . “And what (plea) have they that Allah should not chastise them, while they bar (people) from the Holy Mosque, and they are not guardians of it? Its guardians are not but only the pious ones, but most of them do not know.”
The previous verse indicated that because of the existence of the Prophet (S) among his community and for the sake of their seeking forgiveness, Allah removed from them a punishnent like the punishment of the people of ‘Ad and Thamud. This verse refers to their punishment. The purpose of this punishment may be tile worldly punishment and fighting on the earth. It can also be said that they deserve divine punishment, but Allah does not punish them for the sake of the Prophet (S). Or it may mean that they will not be punished in tile present world, but they will be punished in the coming world.
However, those who hinder people to arrive into the Holy Mosque should expect the Divine punishment. The holy verse says:
They should also know that the custodianship of the Sacred House, which had been built by Abraham the Friend of Allah (as) and based upon piety, must not be left under the control of some impious persons. The verse continues saying: