Ya qawmi la as-alukum AAalayhi ajran in ajriya illa AAala allathee fataranee (surah Hud: 51)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(11:51) My people! I seek no reward from you for my work. My reward lies only with Him Who created me. Do you not understand anything? *56

Yaa qawmi laaa as`alukum `alaihi ajran in ajriya illaa `alal lazee fataranee; afalaa ta`qiloon

*56). This is a very eloquent statement which also embodies a very weighty argument. The Makkan unbelievers had summarily rejected the Prophet's Message without even seriously considering it. This was indicative of the fact that they did not use their brains. For, had they used them, they would certainly have been impressed by the veracity of the Prophet (peace be on him) and the truth of his teachings. For here was someone who had gone through immense suffering in the course of his calling his people to the truth and in sincerely counselling and admonishing them. Again, it was quite evident from all the Prophet's activities that there was no intention of seeking any benefit for himself or his family. The conclusion was very clear. Such a person must have had a very strong reason to be totally convinced about the truth of his faith. For it is in the cause of his faith that he had renounced all his ease and comfort, eschewed the ambitions of material prosperity, and ventured to undertake the perilous task of challenging the beliefs, customs and ways of life which were so deeply rooted in the history of his people. Such an undertaking naturally exposed him both to the hostility of his own people and to many others. It is obvious that the teaching of such a person could not have been so flimsy and trivial as to be casually cast aside without giving it even a serious thought.