18 Preface وَأَنَّ المَساجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلا تَدعوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًاYusuf Ali“And the places of worship1 are for God (alone): So invoke not any one along with God.This is a Meccan Sūra, and Masjid must be understood, not in the later technical sense of a Mosque, but in the root meaning, of any place, or occasion of worship or humble prostration in the service of God, or any limbs of faculties or accessories used in such worship, e.g., hands and feet, lips and voice, understanding or organisation. A number of meanings therefore follow: (1) No place of worship whatever should be used for the worship of any other but God the true God. The Ka‘ba was then full of idols, but the idols and their votaries were usurpers. (2) Worship should not be mixed up with vain objects, but should be reserved for the sincere service of God. (3) All our gifts are for God’s service, which includes the service of His creatures, and not for our vainglory. (R).