Surah Saba 34:47
سُورَةُ سَبَإٍ · Meccan · Verse 47 of 54
قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍۢ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌۭ
Translation
Say, ‘If I have asked you for any reward, you can keep it. It is God alone who will reward me: He is witness to everything.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens with a direct command from Allah to His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him: "Say..." (قُلْ). This immediate instruction underscores the profound importance of the declaration that follows.
A Powerful Challenge
The first part of the statement, "Whatever payment I might have asked of you - it is for you" (مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍۢ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ), carries a striking rhetorical weight. As Imam al-Zamakhshari explains, this isn't just a simple denial of asking for payment. It's a more forceful, almost challenging, way of conveying a definitive "no." It's like saying, "If I *had* ever asked for anything, consider it yours; take it back."
Ibn Ashur highlights this as an ingenious form of rhetorical challenge, or what is called *kinayah tahakkumiyyah*. It’s a beautiful way to entirely dismiss the notion that the Prophet ever sought any personal benefit from his call. The Prophet is essentially challenging them: "If you can point to a single instance where I asked for recompense, then it's yours. Take it, and consider it returned." This makes it abundantly clear that his mission is not for worldly gain. The word "min ajrin" (مِنْ أَجْرٍۢ) uses the particle "min" to emphasize the comprehensive denial, meaning not *any* kind of reward, however small.
Reward from Allah Alone
The verse then makes a crucial affirmation: "My reward is only from Allah" (إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ). The linguistic structure here, using "in... illa" (إن... إلا), is an exclusive one in Arabic. It means "nothing... except" or "only." This firmly establishes that the Prophet's gaze for recompense is solely directed towards Allah. Ibn Ashur points out that the preposition "ala" (عَلَىٰ), meaning "upon," indicates that this reward is a guaranteed right from Allah, stemming from His truthful promise to His sincere servants. This declaration assures us that the Prophet's profound efforts, challenges, and sacrifices in conveying the message were driven purely by his devotion to Allah, not by any expectation from people.
Allah, The All-Knowing Witness
The verse concludes with "and He is over all things a Witness" (وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌۭ). The word "Shahid" (شهيد) means Witness. This powerful ending serves as a profound reassurance and a warning. Allah is the ultimate Witness to everything: the Prophet's unwavering sincerity, his pure intentions, and his tireless efforts. He also witnesses the attitudes and responses of those who hear the message. He knows the unseen depths of every heart and mind. Imam al-Razi connects this witnessing to the very establishment of the Prophetic message, as Allah's witnessing includes His miracles that testify to His messengers' truthfulness. This final phrase underlines that all actions and intentions are fully known to Allah, ensuring that perfect justice and reward will be meted out.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Saba 34:47 is discussed in one study guide on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Saba 34:47 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.