Salam
The accusation of reward is saying that which you deem Mohammad (s) ask seeking as a selfish reward from your viewpoint, what is that, but from the viewpoint he is true but a path to God in 25:57.
Through out Quran, the issue of reward is brought because it's important to realize people think Mohammad (s) wants something for what he is doing. This is normal, when we think of false Prophets, if they ask, what motive they have that benefits them. We say well you get followers, you become famous, perhaps you enjoy the reputation even if fake, perhaps you enjoy having such status even if a lot of people reject you for it. Perhaps the person wants to be able to landscape morals and form a religion.
This all can be seen as a reward. The fact he is obeyed gives him all sorts of power. Musa (a) and Haroun (a) were for example accused of wanting power in the earth despite clear proofs they presented.
So to understand, the mindset of people who doubt, is I don't want to be duped for the benefit of Mohammad (s). What if he lied, he has a lot to gain.
Quran acknowledges this would be a reward if he is a false Prophet, but from viewpoint he is a true Prophet, which he wishes humans to consider, all this would be a path to God per Surah 25, and with respect to kinship it's but a reminder to the worlds (see Surah 6) since Prophets in the past came in groups related to each other.
Other Surahs like Surah The Poets, shows, that Prophets in the past would emphasize their reward (they are accused of aside from wealth which they don't ask at all)what is that reward but something only upon God, it's upon God to establish obedience to a person from humans, because that is the way to God.
It's not only upon God but upon no one else to establish authority, who to follow, reputation, leadership, this is contrast to Pharaoh who was established by falsehood means without proof from God.
And leaders of disbelievers who lead without proof from God.
In Surah 35, it emphasizes whatever of reward they can accuse Nabi (s) of seeking for it is that not in fact, for ourselves?
42:23 is said in context of above, "as for the reward, it's nothing but love of the family chosen by God of which in this time is Mohammad (s) and his family...." The difference is while other reward verses are arguing it's a path to God etc, this is saying, what is that in plain words but recognizing and loving Mohammad (s) along with his family (a) for who they are and then further argues, "whoever does goodness we increase him in it's beauty", this suggests that Ahlulbayt (a) are necessary to believe in to do good which is also suggested by the preceding line "that is the good news he gives to his servants such as believe and do good deeds".
This about faith.
The context is REWARD.
It doesn't make sense to say "O you who disbelieve I ask you no reward for it, all I really ask you is you love the kinship between you and me" sorry it doesn't make sense, Rasool (s) is calling them to worship God, asking more than that, and why emphasize on reward with respect to the subject?
The same is true of loving our own kin, it doesn't make sense, what does that have to do with the reward they accuse him of?
It's obviously in the same spirit of all the verses about reward. Mainly, Mohammad (s) doesn't ask any, but in 42:23, God makes it that really all that they accuse of him selfish reward is just loving him for who he is and his family for who they are since the object of obedience and submission, is not them, but to God.
Sure, they are in control, bossing us around, if they are false, but from viewpoint they are true, we are just submitting to them to submit to God, we obey them to obey God.
This the flow of the Surah, it's about God's Mastership and his unique relationship and Welayat with his creation.
Mohammad (S) is a means, his family is a means, they are not the goal of obedience, God is the goal.
This is why after it says "Or do they say he has forged it..." and argues even if Mohammad (S) is false, the logic shown, is they should seek a chosen kin from God, that is a form of chosen words from God - because God can in this case (if Mohammad (s) is false) annul the falsehood and verify the truth with his words (miracles, revelation, leaders appointed by him) so no excuse to turn away from God's guidance.
But surely Mohammad (s) is not a forger and his guidance is the Guidance of God.
The Surah goes on to talk about the veil with respect to God speaking to his servants and about the spirit from his command being a light by which God guides whoever he wishes.
Sure, the Spirit of his command, whoever is given this, is given authority over humanity and if humanity obeys, he will have everyone under his command.
But this a grace from God and the true object of submission is the light of that light, which is God himself.
They are a means to God while God is the Goal of obedience, submission, and offering reward. They are not worshiped, only God is.
The accusation of reward is saying that which you deem Mohammad (s) ask seeking as a selfish reward from your viewpoint, what is that, but from the viewpoint he is true but a path to God in 25:57.
Through out Quran, the issue of reward is brought because it's important to realize people think Mohammad (s) wants something for what he is doing. This is normal, when we think of false Prophets, if they ask, what motive they have that benefits them. We say well you get followers, you become famous, perhaps you enjoy the reputation even if fake, perhaps you enjoy having such status even if a lot of people reject you for it. Perhaps the person wants to be able to landscape morals and form a religion.
This all can be seen as a reward. The fact he is obeyed gives him all sorts of power. Musa (a) and Haroun (a) were for example accused of wanting power in the earth despite clear proofs they presented.
So to understand, the mindset of people who doubt, is I don't want to be duped for the benefit of Mohammad (s). What if he lied, he has a lot to gain.
Quran acknowledges this would be a reward if he is a false Prophet, but from viewpoint he is a true Prophet, which he wishes humans to consider, all this would be a path to God per Surah 25, and with respect to kinship it's but a reminder to the worlds (see Surah 6) since Prophets in the past came in groups related to each other.
Other Surahs like Surah The Poets, shows, that Prophets in the past would emphasize their reward (they are accused of aside from wealth which they don't ask at all)what is that reward but something only upon God, it's upon God to establish obedience to a person from humans, because that is the way to God.
It's not only upon God but upon no one else to establish authority, who to follow, reputation, leadership, this is contrast to Pharaoh who was established by falsehood means without proof from God.
And leaders of disbelievers who lead without proof from God.
In Surah 35, it emphasizes whatever of reward they can accuse Nabi (s) of seeking for it is that not in fact, for ourselves?
42:23 is said in context of above, "as for the reward, it's nothing but love of the family chosen by God of which in this time is Mohammad (s) and his family...." The difference is while other reward verses are arguing it's a path to God etc, this is saying, what is that in plain words but recognizing and loving Mohammad (s) along with his family (a) for who they are and then further argues, "whoever does goodness we increase him in it's beauty", this suggests that Ahlulbayt (a) are necessary to believe in to do good which is also suggested by the preceding line "that is the good news he gives to his servants such as believe and do good deeds".
This about faith.
The context is REWARD.
It doesn't make sense to say "O you who disbelieve I ask you no reward for it, all I really ask you is you love the kinship between you and me" sorry it doesn't make sense, Rasool (s) is calling them to worship God, asking more than that, and why emphasize on reward with respect to the subject?
The same is true of loving our own kin, it doesn't make sense, what does that have to do with the reward they accuse him of?
It's obviously in the same spirit of all the verses about reward. Mainly, Mohammad (s) doesn't ask any, but in 42:23, God makes it that really all that they accuse of him selfish reward is just loving him for who he is and his family for who they are since the object of obedience and submission, is not them, but to God.
Sure, they are in control, bossing us around, if they are false, but from viewpoint they are true, we are just submitting to them to submit to God, we obey them to obey God.
This the flow of the Surah, it's about God's Mastership and his unique relationship and Welayat with his creation.
Mohammad (S) is a means, his family is a means, they are not the goal of obedience, God is the goal.
This is why after it says "Or do they say he has forged it..." and argues even if Mohammad (S) is false, the logic shown, is they should seek a chosen kin from God, that is a form of chosen words from God - because God can in this case (if Mohammad (s) is false) annul the falsehood and verify the truth with his words (miracles, revelation, leaders appointed by him) so no excuse to turn away from God's guidance.
But surely Mohammad (s) is not a forger and his guidance is the Guidance of God.
The Surah goes on to talk about the veil with respect to God speaking to his servants and about the spirit from his command being a light by which God guides whoever he wishes.
Sure, the Spirit of his command, whoever is given this, is given authority over humanity and if humanity obeys, he will have everyone under his command.
But this a grace from God and the true object of submission is the light of that light, which is God himself.
They are a means to God while God is the Goal of obedience, submission, and offering reward. They are not worshiped, only God is.
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