What Reward Did All the Messengers Ask From Their People?
ما هو الأجر الذي طلبه الرسل من أقوامهم مقابل دعوتهم إلى الله؟
Nuh pbuh: "The people of Noah rejected the messengers when their brother Noah said to them, 'Will you not fear Allah? I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you. So fear Allah, and obey me. I do not ask you for any reward for this message. My reward is only from the Lord of all worlds'" (Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:105-109). Hud pbuh, Salih pbuh, Lot pbuh, and Shu'aib pbuh each said the same words to their own people (Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:123-127, 26:141-145, 26:160-164, and 26:176-180).
نوح عليه السلام: كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿١٠٥﴾ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ نُوحٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٠٦﴾ إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ ﴿١٠٧﴾ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ ﴿١٠٨﴾ وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (الشعراء: 105-109). وكذلك قال هود وصالح ولوط وشعيب عليهم السلام لأقوامهم بنفس الكلمات (الشعراء: 123-127، 141-145، 160-164، 176-180).
1. The Same Words, Five Different Messengers | نفس الكلمات على لسان خمسة رسل
Surah Ash-Shu'ara repeats this exact refrain for five separate nations and their Messengers: Nuh's people, Hud's people (Aad), Salih's people (Thamud), Lot's people, and Shu'aib's people (the dwellers of the Forest). The repetition is deliberate. It shows that refusing any worldly reward was not a personal choice made by one Messenger, but a defining feature of prophethood itself, repeated across different eras and different nations.
تكرر سورة الشعراء هذا اللازمة بعينها لخمس أمم مختلفة ورسلهم: قوم نوح، وقوم هود (عاد)، وقوم صالح (ثمود)، وقوم لوط، وقوم شعيب (أصحاب الأيكة). وهذا التكرار مقصود، إذ يبين أن رفض أي أجر دنيوي لم يكن خيارا شخصيا اتخذه رسول واحد، بل سمة أساسية للنبوة ذاتها، تكررت عبر عصور وأمم مختلفة.
2. Prophet Muhammad Followed the Same Principle | النبي محمد اتبع نفس المبدأ
The same principle was given to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Allah commanded him to say: "If I had ever asked you for a reward, you could keep it. My reward is only from Allah" (Surah Saba 34:47). This shows the pattern set by Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lot, and Shu'aib was not limited to their nations alone, but continued as the standard for every Messenger, including the final one.
قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ (سورة سبأ: 47)
أُعطي النبي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم المبدأ نفسه. فأمره الله أن يقول: "قل ما سألتكم من أجر فهو لكم إن أجري إلا على الله وهو على كل شيء شهيد" (سورة سبأ: 47). وهذا يبين أن النمط الذي وضعه نوح وهود وصالح ولوط وشعيب لم يقتصر على أممهم وحدها، بل استمر معيارا لكل رسول، بما في ذلك خاتمهم.
3. Why Sincerity of the Message Mattered | لماذا كان إخلاص الرسالة مهما
By refusing worldly reward, each Messenger removed any possible doubt about his motives. Their people could not accuse them of preaching for personal gain, since they gained nothing from it materially. This safeguarded the sincerity of the message itself, making clear that the sole purpose of the call was guiding people to Allah, not securing wealth, status, or favor from those being invited.
برفض الأجر الدنيوي، أزال كل رسول أي شك ممكن حول دوافعه. فلم يستطع قومهم اتهامهم بالدعوة لمكسب شخصي، إذ لم يجنوا من ذلك شيئا ماديا. وهذا حفظ إخلاص الرسالة ذاتها، موضحا أن الغاية الوحيدة من الدعوة كانت هداية الناس إلى الله، لا تحصيل مال أو مكانة أو حظوة ممن دُعوا.
Scholarly Insight: Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lot, and Shu'aib each declared, in the same words recorded in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, that they asked their people for no reward. Surah Saba 34:47 shows this same principle was given to Prophet Muhammad, confirming that refusing worldly reward is a defining feature of every Messenger's mission. Read the fuller context in the tafsir of Surah Ash-Shu'ara and the tafsir of Surah Saba.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which Messengers said they asked for no reward?
Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lot, and Shu'aib, peace be upon them, as recorded in Surah Ash-Shu'ara.
Did Prophet Muhammad ask his people for a reward?
No. Allah commanded him with the same principle in Surah Saba 34:47.
Who was each Messenger's true reward from?
Each Messenger stated his reward was only from Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.