وَمَا تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 104
Translations
And you do not ask of them for it any payment. It is not except a reminder to the worlds.
Transliteration
Wa maa tas'aluhum 'alayhi min ajrin, in huwa illa dhikrun lil-'alameen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) does not request any worldly compensation or payment from the people for delivering the Quran and his message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the Quran is described as a 'reminder for all the worlds' (dhikr lil-'alameen), emphasizing its universal spiritual guidance that transcends material reward. The message serves humanity regardless of whether people acknowledge or compensate the messenger, highlighting the selfless nature of prophetic mission and the intrinsic value of divine revelation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Yusuf and reflects the broader Meccan context where the Prophet faced opposition and rejection from the Quraysh despite his message being entirely without personal material interest. It serves as a reminder to both the Prophet and believers that the Quran's purpose is spiritual guidance for all mankind, not commercial transaction.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here connects to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.' This emphasizes that the transmission of divine knowledge is a noble act without expectation of material reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should engage with Islamic knowledge and dawah (invitation to Islam) from sincere intention rather than worldly gain, understanding that the ultimate value lies in spiritual guidance and service to humanity. This ayah teaches that the greatest contributions to society are often those made without expectation of material compensation.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ ءَاثَرَكَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَـٰطِـِٔينَ
They said, "By Allāh, certainly has Allāh preferred you over us, and indeed, we have been sinners."
يَـٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allāh. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allāh except the disbelieving people."
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَخَاهُ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his brother to himself; he said, "Indeed, I am your brother, so do not despair over what they used to do [to me]."
فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians."