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fa-ʾin tawallaytum fa-mā saʾaltukum min ʾajrin ʾin ʾajriya ʾillā ʿalā llāhi wa-ʾumirtu ʾan ʾakūna mina l-muslimīna
If you turn your back [on me], I do not ask any reward from you; my reward lies only with Allah and I have been commanded to be of those who submit [to Allah].’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yunus – Verse 72
72. “But if you turn back, I have not asked you for any recompense, my recompense is only upon Allah, and I am commanded to be of those (who) surrender (unto Him).”
Anxieties often revolve around either one’s life or one’s wealth. In the foregoing verse, the issue in question centers on the conspiracy of their enemies with regard to the lives of the prophets. The issue dealt with in this verse relates to the prophets’ lack of expectations for reward and wealth from the side of people. Noah (as) in this verse announced that if the unbelievers were to turn away from the truth, not accepting or following it, he did not expect any rewards for bringing them the message. This was his mission, so they should not balk at acceptance for fear of feeling that they would end up owing him something, which would be burdensome to them.
The verse says:
“But if you turn back, I have not asked you for any recompense, my recompense is only upon Allah...”
The verse also implies that if they turn away from accepting his words, he would not be at a disadvantage for he was not after their wealth (he did not covet) so that their turning away would put him at a loss, on the contrary, their rejection would turn out to be at their own disadvantage. He emphasized that his reward for the prophetic mission and its accomplishment lay with Allah alone. And Allah, the Gracious, had commissioned Noah (as) to be among those who had submitted themselves to His commandments for, indeed, the best of what the servants of Allah can practice is to obey and submit to Him.
The verse continues as follows:
“…and I am commanded to be of those (who) surrender (unto Him).”