سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 47
قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ ﴿47﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "Whatever wage I might have asked of you is yours. My wage is from Allâh only, and He is a Witness over all things."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلْ
qul
Say
مَا
mā
Not
سَأَلْتُكُم
sa-altukum
I ask you
مِّنْ
min
for
أَجْرٍۢ
ajrin
any payment
فَهُوَ
fahuwa
but it (is)
لَكُمْ ۖ
lakum
for you
إِنْ
in
Not
أَجْرِىَ
ajriya
(is) my payment
إِلَّا
illā
but
عَلَى
ʿalā
from
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
Allah
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
(is) over
كُلِّ
kulli
all
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
things
شَهِيدٌۭ
shahīdun
a Witness
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 47) ➊ { قُلْ مَا سَاَلْتُكُمْ مِّنْ اَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ … :} This is the second instruction: make it clear that in delivering the message of Allah Almighty, I do not ask you for any reward or compensation. If I have asked you for any reward, then it is yours. This is just like when a person says to another, "If you have given me anything, then take it back," knowing that he has not given him anything; the only purpose is to express that you have not given me anything that I could return to you. Similarly, it is said here that if I have asked you for any wage, then it is yours. The meaning is that I have not asked you for any wage at all; my invitation is only for your own good, just as Hud (peace be upon him) said to his people: «{ وَ مَاۤ اَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ اَجْرٍ اِنْ اَجْرِيَ اِلَّا عَلٰى رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ }» [ الشعراء : ۱۲۷] "And I do not ask you for any reward for it; my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds." The second meaning is that if I have asked you for anything by delivering this message, then it is something for your own benefit. My only demand from you is that you adopt the path that leads to your Lord, as it is said: «{ قُلْ مَاۤ اَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ اَجْرٍ اِلَّا مَنْ شَآءَ اَنْ يَّتَّخِذَ اِلٰى رَبِّهٖ سَبِيْلًا }» [ الفرقان : ۵۷ ] "Say: I do not ask you for any wage for it except that whoever wills may take a way to his Lord."
➋ {وَ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيْدٌ :} That is, let the accusers say whatever they wish, but the reality is that my reward is with Allah, and He knows everything, and He is a witness to my truthfulness and sincerity of intention, that in delivering His message I have no greed for anything of this world, nor do I seek any wage or compensation from anyone besides Him, nor do I desire it.
➋ {وَ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيْدٌ :} That is, let the accusers say whatever they wish, but the reality is that my reward is with Allah, and He knows everything, and He is a witness to my truthfulness and sincerity of intention, that in delivering His message I have no greed for anything of this world, nor do I seek any wage or compensation from anyone besides Him, nor do I desire it.
