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4404.chapter sixGod is full of strength, exalted in might, (able to enforce Hiswill) ( Al-\ajj 22:40).(They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establishregular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the right andforbid wrong—with God rests the end (and decision) of (all)affairs ( Al-\ajj 22:41).First, it is important to understand the phrase ‘God will defend thosewho believe’ (22:38) in the light of the phrase ‘Did not God checkone set of people by means of another’ two verses further below(22:40), because it clearly distinguishes between d§fa#a (third verbalclass), as used in 22:38, and dafa# (first verb form), as used in 22:40.This helps us to understand the differences between ‘to defend’ and‘to check’ and shows both can be understood in nonmilitary terms.Second, the phrase ‘God is most powerful for their aid’ (22:39) cannotbe isolated from the phrase ‘God will certainly aid those whoaid his (cause)’ in the succeeding verse (22:40). Third, the phrase‘those who establish prayer’ and the houses of worship in the diversereligious communities (22:41) must be read in conjunction with thephrase ‘monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques’ as statedin the preceding verse (22:40). This helps us to understand that sinceAllah has firmly established humankind on this earth, the best wayto consolidate people’s place on earth is to give them religious freedomand the right to perform the traditions and rituals of theirchoice. Fourth, it is impossible to correctly understand the phrase‘Did not God check’ (22:40) in isolation from ‘one set of people bymeans of another’, as stated in the same verse. Finally, the term‘mosque’ in 22:40 is to be understood in its specific meaning of ‘theplace of prayer for the believers and followers of MuÈammad (ß)’because it is mentioned separately from the ‘monasteries, churches,synagogues’ in the previous line. In a different context, however, forexample, in 72:18 or 22:18, the same term has a more general meaning,referring to a ‘place of commemorating God’s name’ whichincludes mosques, churches, synagogues, and monasteries. 113113‘And the places of worship [ al-mas§jid] are for God (alone): So invoke not anyone along with God’ ( Al-Jinn 72:18); ‘Do you not see that to God bow down in worship[yasjud] all things that are in the heavens and on earth…’ ( Al-\ajj 22:18).