أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ خَرْجًا فَخَرَاجُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ 72
Translations
Or do you, [O Muḥammad], ask them for payment? But the reward of your Lord is best, and He is the best of providers.
Transliteration
Am tas'aluhum kharjan fa-kharaju rabbika khayrun wa-huwa khayru ar-raziqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad, rejecting the notion that he should demand payment (kharj) from people for delivering Allah's message. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that the provision (khiraj) from Allah is superior to any worldly compensation, emphasizing that the Prophet's sustenance comes directly from Allah, the Best of Providers. The ayah affirms that true wealth and provision come from obedience to Allah's commands, not from material demands placed upon the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun, which discusses the characteristics of true believers and the rejection of false deities. It addresses accusations by the Quraysh that the Prophet was seeking personal gain through his message, refuting such claims and establishing that the Prophet's reliance is solely upon Allah's provision, not on extracting payment from those he preaches to.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet gives,' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari confirms that the Prophet never accepted gifts or payment for his preaching, embodying the principle stated in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should seek their sustenance from Allah alone and not pursue worldly gain through compromising their faith or religious obligations. This teaches us that true wealth lies in relying upon Allah's provision and maintaining spiritual integrity, rather than in material accumulation or worldly transactions.
Related Ayahs
فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ ۙ فَٱسْلُكْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُخَـٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ
So We inspired to him, "Construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows, put into it [i.e., the ship] from each [creature] two mates and your family, except him for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned.
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And they who believe in the signs of their Lord
إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا عَالِينَ
To Pharaoh and his establishment, but they were arrogant and were a haughty people.
فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَنزَلَ مَلَـٰٓئِكَةً مَّا سَمِعْنَا بِهَـٰذَا فِىٓ ءَابَآئِنَا ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
But the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to take precedence over you; and if Allāh had willed [to send a messenger], He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.