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.