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ʾa-jaʿaltum siqāyata l-ḥājji wa-ʿimārata l-masjidi l-ḥarāmi ka-man ʾāmana bi-llāhi wa-l-yawmi l-ʾākhiri wa-jāhada fī sabīli llāhi lā yastawūna ʿinda llāhi wa-llāhu lā yahdī l-qawma ẓ-ẓālimīna
Do you regard the providing of water to Hajj pilgrims and the maintenance of the Holy Mosque as similar [in worth] to someone who has faith in Allah and [believes in] the Last Day and wages jihad in the way of Allah? They are not equal with Allah, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing lot.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah At-Tawbah – Verse 19
19 . “Do you make the giving of water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque equal to someone who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and strives in the way of Allah? They are not equal with Allah, and Allah does not guide the unjust people.”
Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle, and Shaybah, the custodian of Ka‘bah, were boasting to each other. Abbas boasted of his job which was supplying water for the pilgrimages of the Sacred House, and Shaybah boasted of being the custodian of the Ka‘bah. Ali (as) said that he gloried in the fact that they embraced Islam with the help of his struggle and his sword. Abbas was annoyed and complained of Ali (as) before the Prophet (S). Then, this verse was revealed.
For his precedence, Ali (as) repeatedly called to witness by this verse, because Faith and Holy Struggle were superior to the services done in the age of idolatry which did not bring them spiritual worth. The verse says:
Therefore, a deed without being accompanied by faith is something hollow. It is like a mirage, or as a body without soul. This fact must be remarked here that sincere strivers are superior to others, although the latter are helpful in a lot of services through some other jobs. That is why if the true Faithful strivers be compared as equivalent with others, it will be counted as one of the social injustices. The verse continues saying: