What does Quran 72:18 mean?

Quran 72:18 (Surah Al-Jinn, Ayah 18) translates to: "And [He revealed] that the masjids are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone."

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 72:18 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Jinn (The Jinn), the 72th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 29.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 72:18?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Jami` at-Tirmidhi.

What tafsir is available for Quran 72:18?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

Ayah 17

لِّنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن يُعْرِضْ عَن ذِكْرِ ...

72:18Al-Jinn

Q: What topics does Quran 72:18 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Allah, Tawhid, Worship of Allah Alone, Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah), Divine Command.

Ayah 19

وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ ك...

وَأَنَّ ٱلْمَسَٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدًۭا

Wa annal masaajida lillaahi falaa tad'oo ma'al laahi ahadaa

And [He revealed] that the masjids are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone.

Themes in this ayah

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Oneness of Allah97

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9 other themes with weak connections

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Oneness of Allah

72:18Ayah 128

4 ayahs in Al-Jinn are strongly about the oneness of Allah. This is one of them.

← Previous on Oneness of Allah72:3And [it teaches] that exalted is the nobleness of our Lord; He has not taken a wife or a son Next on Oneness of Allah →72:20Say, [O Muhammad], "I only invoke my Lord and do not associate with Him anyone."

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 72:18→

And it has been revealed to me that the places of prayer belong to God so do not invoke in them anyone along with God by associating others with Him like the Jews and Christians do who when they enter their churches and temples they ascribe partners to God.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If anyone hears a man crying out in the mosque about something he has lost, he should say: May Allah not restore it to you, for the mosques were not built for this.

Sunan Abu Dawud #4492Narrated Hakim ibn Hizam:Sahih li ghairih

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade to take retaliation in the mosque, to recite verses in it and to inflict the prescribed punishments in it.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3177Narrated Abu Sa'eed:Sahih

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When you see a man frequenting the Masjid, then testify to his faith. Indeed Allah, Most High, said: The Masjid shall be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last day (9:18)." (Another chain) from Abu Sa'eed from the Prophet (ﷺ) with similar wording except that he said: "Yata'ahadul Masjid."

Sahih Muslim #2130Jabir said:Sahih

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade that the graves should be plastered or they be used as sitting places (for the people), or a building should be built over them.

Sunan Abu Dawud #473Abu Hurairah reported:Sahih

I heard the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying; if anyone hears a man crying out in the mosque about something he has lost, he should say: May Allah not restore it to you, for the mosque were not built for this.