وَمَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 164
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)
Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) declares that he seeks no financial compensation or worldly reward from his people for delivering Allah's message to them. His only recompense comes from Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this statement reflects the noble character of the prophets, who were motivated solely by obedience to Allah and concern for their people's salvation, not by material gain.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which recounts the stories of various prophets (Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shu'ayb, and Musa). The surah is Meccan and was revealed during the early period when the Quraysh accused the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) of seeking wealth and power. Each prophet in the surah repeats similar statements rejecting worldly compensation, strengthening the theme that prophethood is a divine trust, not a commercial enterprise.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like one who did it.' (Sahih Muslim 1893). Additionally, the principle of refusing compensation for religious knowledge is reflected in the hadith about the importance of sincere intention in Islamic service.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that service to Allah and guidance of others should never be motivated by material compensation or worldly status. It reminds us that true reward comes from Allah alone, encouraging sincere dedication to Islamic principles without expectation of earthly returns.
Related Ayahs
وَلَهُمْ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌ فَأَخَافُ أَن يَقْتُلُونِ
And they have upon me a [claim due to] sin, so I fear that they will kill me."
وَإِنَّهُمْ لَنَا لَغَآئِظُونَ
And indeed, they are enraging us,
ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا ٱلْـَٔاخَرِينَ
Then We drowned the others.
فَلَمَّا تَرَٰٓءَا ٱلْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ
And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!"