And when their response occurred regarding their saying, "If only a messenger were sent down to him" [Al-Furqan: 7], and their saying, "Or a treasure be thrown down to him" [Al-Furqan: 8] remained, it was indicated that there is a greater concern for his response by presenting it in the form of an answer to one who might say: What is to be said to them when they conspire and slander the message with what has preceded and other than it? He said: "Say"; meaning to them, O most honorable of creation in truth, and the most just among them in argument against them by removing what could be a cause for accusation: "I do not ask you for it"; meaning for the conveying of the good news and the warning, "any reward" so that you may accuse me of calling you for its sake, or you may say: If only a treasure were thrown down to him so that he could become rich by it instead. It is as if he is saying: Restraining oneself from seeking wealth is only disliked for one who asks people, and this is not from my character before prophethood; how then after it? So I have no aim at that time except for your benefit. Then he confirmed this meaning by saying, excluding that the exception is a criterion for generality: "Except for the reward of one"; meaning except for the reward of one who "wishes to take"; meaning to obligate himself and oppose his desires and make for himself "a way to his Lord". For if he is guided by the guidance of his Lord, he has for me the like of his reward. There is no benefit for me from your side except this. If you call this a reward, then it is what I seek, and there is no doubt that it does not diminish anyone's worldly affairs. So there is no harm to anyone in the worldly matters from me. This provided two benefits: one of them is that he has no desire at all for anything that diminishes them, and the second is the display of profound compassion by that he is considered in their benefit that leads them to their Lord as a reward for himself.