The reason behind revealing these honorable Ayat is that before the Messenger
of Allah migrated to Al-Madinah, there was a man from Al-Khazraj called "Abu
`Amir Ar-Rahib (the Monk).'' This man embraced Christianity before Islam and
read the Scriptures. During the time of Jahiliyyah, Abu `Amir was known for
being a worshipper and being a notable person among Al-Khazraj. When the
Messenger of Allah arrived at Al-Madinah after the Hijrah, the Muslims gathered
around him and the word of Islam was triumphant on the day of Badr, causing Abu
`Amir, the cursed one, to choke on his own saliva and announce his enmity to
Islam. He fled from Al-Madinah to the idolators of Quraysh in Makkah to support
them in the war against the Messenger of Allah . The Quraysh united their forces
and the bedouins who joined them for the battle of Uhud, during which Allah
tested the Muslims, but the good end is always for the pious and righteous
people. The rebellious Abu `Amir dug many holes in the ground between the two
camps, into one of which the Messenger fell, injuring his face and breaking one
of his right lower teeth. He also sustained a head injury. Before the fighting
started, Abu `Amir approached his people among the Ansar and tried to convince
them to support and agree with him. When they recognized him, they said, "May
Allah never burden an eye by seeing you, O Fasiq one, O enemy of Allah!'' They
cursed him and he went back declaring, "By Allah! Evil has touched my people
after I left.'' The Messenger of Allah called Abu `Amir to Allah and recited the
Qur'an to him before his flight to Makkah, but he refused to embrace Islam and
rebelled. The Messenger invoked Allah that Abu `Amir die as an outcast in an
alien land, and his invocation came true. After the battle of Uhud was finished,
Abu `Amir realized that the Messenger's call was still rising and gaining
momentum, so he went to Heraclius, the emperor of Rome, asking for his aid
against the Prophet . Heraclius gave him promises and Abu `Amir remained with
him. He also wrote to several of his people in Al-Madinah, who embraced
hypocrisy, promising and insinuating to them that he will lead an army to fight
the Messenger of Allah to defeat him and his call. He ordered them to establish
a stronghold where he could send his emissaries and to serve as an outpost when
he joins them later on. These hypocrites built a Masjid next to the Masjid in
Quba', and they finished building it before the Messenger went to Tabuk. They
went to the Messenger inviting him to pray in their Masjid so that it would be a
proof that the Messenger approved of their Masjid. They told him that they built
the Masjid for the weak and ill persons on rainy nights. However, Allah
prevented His Messenger from praying in that Masjid. He said to them,
«إِنَّا عَلَى سَفَرٍ
وَلَكِنْ إِذَا رَجَعْنَا إِنْ شَاءَ الله»
(If we come back from our travel, Allah willing.)'' When the Messenger of
Allah came back from Tabuk and was approximately one or two days away from
Al-Madinah, Jibril came down to him with the news about Masjid Ad-Dirar and the
disbelief and division between the believers, who were in Masjid Quba' (which
was built on piety from the first day), that Masjid Ad-Dirar was meant to
achieve. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah sent some people to Masjid Ad-Dirar
to bring it down before he reached Al-Madinah. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that
Ibn `Abbas said about this Ayah (9:107), "They are some people of the Ansar to
whom Abu `Amir said, `Build a Masjid and prepare whatever you can of power and
weapons, for I am headed towards Caesar, emperor of Rome, to bring Roman
soldiers with whom I will expel Muhammad and his companions.' When they built
their Masjid, they went to the Prophet and said to him, "We finished building
our Masjid and we would like you pray in it and invoke Allah for us for His
blessings.''Allah revealed this verse,
[لاَ تَقُمْ فِيهِ
أَبَدًا]
(Never stand you therein), until,
[الْظَّـلِمِينَ]
(...wrongdoers) '' Allah said next,
[وَلَيَحْلِفَنَّ]
(they will indeed swear), those who built it,
[إِنْ أَرَدْنَا
إِلاَّ الْحُسْنَى]
(that their intention is nothing but good.) by building this Masjid we sought
the good and the comfort of the people. Allah replied,
[وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ
إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـذِبُونَ]
(Allah bears witness that they are certainly liars) for they only built it to
harm Masjid Quba', and out of disbelief in Allah, and to divide the believers.
They made it an outpost for those who warred against Allah and His Messenger ,
such as Abu `Amir the Fasiq who used to be called Ar-Rahib, may Allah curse him!
Allah said,
[لاَ تَقُمْ فِيهِ
أَبَدًا]
(Never stand you therein), prohibiting His Prophet and his Ummah from ever
standing in it in prayer.