وَمَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 109
Translations
And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.
Transliteration
Wa mā as'alukum 'alayhi min ajrin, in ajrī illā 'alā Rabbi al-'ālamīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Nuh declares that he seeks no monetary reward or compensation from his people for conveying the message of Allah; his only reward is from Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a hallmark of all the prophets—their sincerity in da'wah (calling to Allah) is evidenced by their refusal of worldly compensation, distinguishing them from false prophets who exploit people for material gain. This statement serves as proof of the prophets' integrity and dedication to their divine mission.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Prophet Nuh's address to his people in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, one of the Meccan surahs. It reflects the broader context of the Qur'an's defense of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) against accusations that he sought wealth or power through his message. The repetition of this phrase across multiple prophets' stories (Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, and Shu'ayb) emphasizes the universal principle of prophetic integrity.
Related Hadiths
The Qur'an itself (36:21) records a similar statement from a believing man in Surah Ya-Sin. Additionally, Surah 34:47 records: 'Say, 'I do not ask you for this any reward; it is only a reminder for the worlds.' These principles are reinforced throughout the Sunnah regarding the Prophet's refusal of gifts and his emphasis on sincere advice (nasiha).
Themes
Key Lesson
True religious leadership and preaching must be motivated by sincere devotion to Allah alone, not by personal gain or worldly benefits. This principle applies to all believers who share Islamic knowledge—our reward should be sought only from Allah, not from recognition or material compensation from people.