وَمَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 180
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)
This ayah, spoken by Prophet Shu'ayb (peace be upon him), affirms that he seeks no worldly compensation or wages from his people for delivering Allah's message to them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this as a hallmark characteristic of all the prophets—they preached purely for Allah's sake, with their sole reward being from the Lord of all worlds. This statement emphasizes the prophets' sincerity, selflessness, and complete reliance upon Allah rather than human remuneration.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Prophet Shu'ayb's preaching to the people of Madyan (Midian). The broader context of Surah Ash-Shu'ara presents multiple prophets (Musa, Ibrahim, Nuh, Hud, Salih, and Lut) each declaring the same message of monotheism and rejecting worldly reward, reinforcing the universal principle that prophets do not seek material gain from their mission.
Related Hadiths
The principle is reflected in hadith: 'The best charity is when one has little' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), and more directly in the teaching that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'I have been commanded to serve Allah sincerely' (Surah Az-Zumar 39:11), emphasizing service to Allah alone without worldly expectation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true service to Allah and authentic da'wah (preaching) must be free from selfish motives and material expectations. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that sincere work in Islam—whether in education, community service, or spreading knowledge—should be undertaken with the intention of pleasing Allah alone, trusting that He will provide and reward accordingly.