The Quran

Preface

۞ أَجَعَلتُم سِقايَةَ الحاجِّ وَعِمارَةَ المَسجِدِ الحَرامِ كَمَن آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ وَجاهَدَ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ لا يَستَوونَ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لا يَهدِي القَومَ الظّالِمينَ

Yusuf Ali

Do ye make the giving¹ of drink to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to (the pious service of) those who believe in God and the Last Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of God. They are not comparable in the sight of God. and God guides not those who do wrong.

Giving drinks of cold water to thirsty pilgrims, and doing material services to a mosque are meritorious acts, but they are only external. If they do not touch the soul, their value is slight. Far greater, in the sight of God, are Faith, Endeavour, and self-surrender to God. Men who practise these will obtain honour in the sight of God. God’s light and guidance comes to them, and not to those self-sufficient beings who think that a little show of what the world considers piety is enough.