Rowwad Translation Center — 181

8:34 Why should Allah not punish them when they prevent [people] from the Sacred Mosque, although they are not its rightful guardians? Its rightful guardians are only those who fear Allah, but most of them do not know.

8:35 Their prayer at the Sacred House was nothing but whistling and clapping. So taste the punishment[1] for your disbelief.

8:36 The disbelievers spend their wealth to prevent [people] from the way of Allah. They will continue to spend it, then it will be a source of regret for them, then they will be defeated, and those who disbelieve will be gathered into Hell,

8:37 so that Allah may separate the wicked from the good, and pile up the wicked all together and then cast them into Hell. It is they who are the losers.

8:38 Say to those who disbelieve that if they desist[1], their past will be forgiven, but if they persist, then they have a precedent in those who have passed before them.

8:39 Fight them until there is no more persecution[1] and the religion is entirely for Allah; but if they desist, then Allah is All-Seeing of what they do.

8:40 But if they turn away, then know that Allah is your Protector. What an excellent Protector and an excellent Helper!