قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ 47
Translations
Say, "Whatever payment I might have asked of you - it is yours. My payment is only from Allāh, and He is, over all things, Witness."
Transliteration
Qul mā sa'altukum min ajrin fahuwa lakum. In ajrī illā 'alā Allāh. Wa huwa 'alā kulli shay'in shahīd.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that he seeks no compensation from the people for conveying Allah's message—any reward offered belongs to them as a benefit, while his true recompense comes solely from Allah. This ayah emphasizes the Prophet's sincerity and disinterestedness in his mission, and affirms that Allah is the ultimate witness and judge over all actions and intentions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this demonstrates the Prophet's dedication to prophethood free from worldly motives.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Saba (a Meccan surah) where the Quraysh were challenging the Prophet's message and accusations. The surah addresses various objections to the Message. This particular ayah directly responds to any implied accusation that the Prophet sought material gain from his preaching, establishing the purity of his intention and his complete dependence on Allah's reward.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of seeking no worldly reward: The Prophet said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), demonstrating sincere religious service. Also relevant: 'Whoever calls to guidance has a reward similar to the reward of those who follow him' (Sunan Ibn Majah 206), showing that reward comes from Allah, not people.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere service to Allah's cause should be motivated by love for Allah and seeking His reward, not by worldly compensation or approval from people. It reminds us that Allah witnesses all intentions and is the true source of reward, calling us to examine our motivations in all acts of worship and service.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم ۖ بَلْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْبُدُونَ ٱلْجِنَّ ۖ أَكْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤْمِنُونَ
They will say, "Exalted are You! You, [O Allāh], are our benefactor excluding [i.e., not] them. Rather, they used to worship the jinn; most of them were believers in them."
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ
And We did not send into a city any warner except that its affluent said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers."
قُلْ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ يَفْتَحُ بَيْنَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُوَ ٱلْفَتَّاحُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
Say, "Our Lord will bring us together; then He will judge between us in truth. And He is the Knowing Judge."
۞ قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَإِنَّآ أَوْ إِيَّاكُمْ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى أَوْ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
Say, "Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth?" Say, "Allāh. And indeed, we or you are either upon guidance or in clear error."