وَمَاwamāBut whatلَهُمْlahum(is) for themاَلَّاallāthat notيُعَذِّبَهُمُyuʿadhibahumu(should) punish themاللّٰهُl-lahuAllahوَهُمْwahumwhile theyيَصُدُّونَyaṣuddūnahinder (people)عَنِʿanifromالْمَسْجِدِl-masjidiAl-Masjidالْحَرَامِl-ḥarāmiAl-Haraamوَمَاwamāwhile notكَانُٓواkānūthey areاَوْلِيَٓاءَهُۜawliyāahuits guardiansاِنْinNot (can be)اَوْلِيَٓاؤُ۬هُٓawliyāuhuits guardiansاِلَّاillāexceptالْمُتَّقُونَl-mutaqūnathe ones who fear Allahوَلٰكِنَّwalākinnabutاَكْثَرَهُمْaktharahummost of themلَاlā(do) notيَعْلَمُونَyaʿlamūnaknowWhy should God not punish them when they are turning others away from the Restricted Temple, and they were never its protectors! Its protectors are the righteous. But most of them do not know.