لَا يَزَالُ بُنْيَـٰنُهُمُ ٱلَّذِى بَنَوْا۟ رِيبَةً فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَّآ أَن تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 110
Translations
Their building which they built will not cease to be a [cause of] skepticism in their hearts until their hearts are cut [i.e., stopped]. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
Transliteration
Lā yazālu bunyānuhumu alladhī banaw ribatan fī qulūbihim illā an taqaṭṭa'a qulūbuhum; wallāhu 'alīmun ḥakīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who built a mosque with ulterior motives of hypocrisy and disunity (the Mosque of Ḍirār), and their construction will perpetually cause doubt and unease in their hearts until their hearts are completely torn apart by regret and divine punishment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Ṭabarī, the 'building' symbolizes their actions and intentions, and the 'doubt in their hearts' reflects the internal torment that comes from acting against truth and Allah's guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah At-Tawbah (9) regarding the Mosque of Ḍirār, built by hypocrites near Medina as a rival to the Mosque of Qubāʾ. The surah addresses hypocrites who claimed to be Muslims while harboring disbelief and sedition. This particular ayah condemns the builders' actions and the psychological torment of hypocrisy that will persist until divine punishment comes.
Related Hadiths
The historical context is preserved in the Sīrah literature: The hypocrites built the Mosque of Ḍirār to create division among Muslims, and the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered its destruction. Related thematic hadith: 'The most truthful word is that of the Prophet and the most dishonourable death is that of the hypocrite' (Jāmi' At-Tirmidhī).
Themes
Key Lesson
Hidden hypocrisy and actions performed with corrupt intentions create an inescapable internal psychological torment, serving as both a punishment in this life and a sign of Allah's justice. Believers should examine their intentions and ensure their deeds are sincere for Allah's sake alone, free from selfish motives or desires to cause discord.