Say to them: “Whatever recompense I might ask of you, it shall be yours.1 My recompense is with Allah, and He is witness over everything.”2
Footnotes
[1]Qira’at: Ibn Zekwan and Rouh read it as: “. . . their ropes and staffs appeared to him . . .”
[2]Qira’at: Ibn Zekwan read it as: “And cast what is in your right hand, to swallow . . .”
[3]
Another meaning of this can be: “I do not ask anything but your well-being: My only recompense is that you should be reformed.” This thing has been expressed at another place thus; “O Prophet, say to them: I do not ask of you any recompense for this: I only ask of the one, who will, to adopt the way of his Lord.” (Surah Al-Furqan, Ayat 57).
[4]
That is, “The accusers may say whatever they like but Allah knows everything. He is a witness that I am a selfless person. I am not perforating this mission for any selfish motive.”