قُلْ مَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِلَّا مَن شَآءَ أَن يَتَّخِذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلًا 57
Translations
Say, "I do not ask of you for it any payment - only that whoever wills might take to his Lord a way."
Transliteration
Qul mā as'alukum 'alayhi min ajrin illā man shā'a an yattakhidha ilā rabbihi sabīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that he seeks no material reward for conveying the message of Islam, but rather his only desire is that people choose to take the path toward their Lord. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this ayah emphasizes the disinterestedness of the Prophet's mission and refutes accusations that he preached for worldly gain. The phrase 'whoever wishes to take a path to his Lord' means the only compensation the Prophet desires is the spiritual guidance and salvation of his people.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan, a Meccan surah that addresses common objections to the Prophet's message. It responds to pagan Meccan claims that Muhammad preached for personal benefit. The broader context of this surah deals with defending the Prophet against false accusations and clarifying the nature of his mission as purely for the sake of Allah and the guidance of mankind.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim states that the Prophet said: 'The best charity is water' and in various narrations he emphasized his mission was solely for conveying the message. Additionally, Surah 36:21 contains the thematic parallel where a believer says he seeks no reward except from the Lord of all creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that sincere Islamic teaching and guidance should never be motivated by worldly reward or personal gain, but solely by the desire to help others reach Allah. For modern da'is (callers) and believers, it serves as a reminder that the true measure of success in religious work is the spiritual uplift of others, not financial or social advancement.