ذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يُبَشِّرُ ٱللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا ٱلْمَوَدَّةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَّزِدْ لَهُۥ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ 23
Translations
It is that of which Allāh gives good tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not ask you for it [i.e., this message] any payment [but] only good will through [i.e., due to] kinship." And whoever commits a good deed - We will increase for him good therein. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Appreciative.
Transliteration
Dhālika alladhī yubashshiru allāhu 'ibādahu alladhīna āmanū wa 'amilū aṣ-ṣāliḥāt. Qul lā as'alukum 'alayhi ajran illā al-mawaddata fī al-qurbā. Wa man yaqtarif ḥasanatan nazid lahu fīhā ḥusnā. Inna allāha ghafūrun shakūr.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse describes the reward Allah promises to the believers who have faith and perform righteous deeds. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is instructed to clarify that he seeks no material compensation for delivering the message except love and kinship toward the believers—emphasizing the spiritual nature of his mission rather than worldly gain. The closing statement affirms that Allah's generosity multiplies good deeds and His capacity to forgive is boundless, as He is both Forgiving (Ghafūr) and Appreciative (Shakūr) of righteous actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period when the Prophet faced accusations from polytheists that he preached for personal gain or wealth. The surah's theme of consultation (Ash-Shurā) and divine guidance provides the broader context, emphasizing that the Qur'an is a message from Allah without ulterior motives. The verse directly addresses skepticism about the Prophet's sincerity by clarifying his sole request: the emotional bond and familial affection of believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet said, 'My likeness and the likeness of the other prophets before me is like the likeness of a man who built a beautiful and fine house, except for a place of one brick in one of its corners' (Sahih Bukhari 3441), illustrating the completeness of his message. Additionally, 'Whoever loves for the sake of Allah and hates for the sake of Allah has perfected his faith' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4599) relates to the concept of kinship and affection mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere devotion to faith and righteous deeds—motivated by love for Allah and His message rather than material reward—is the foundation of spiritual success. It reminds us that true leadership and guidance are selfless endeavors, and that Allah abundantly rewards goodness while being eternally forgiving and appreciative of our efforts.