Such is the good news from God to His servants who acknowledge and do good works. Say, "I do not ask you for any wage, except that you show compassion to your relatives." Whosoever earns a good deed, We shall increase it for him in goodness. Surely, God is Forgiving, Appreciative.
Translation endnotes
[42:23] This verse is mostly abused by Shiite clergymen. They claim that prophet Muhammed was ordered to ask help for HIS relatives. The special status given to the descendents of Muhammed through Fatima and Ali, supported by a distorted meaning of this verse has created a privileged and "sacred" religious class. Hundreds of thousands of bearded leeches in Iran, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries claim that they are descendents of Prophet Muhammed (Sayyeed or Shareef) and that they are thereby entitled to obligatory financial help. They abuse the verse mentioned above to exploit people economically. However, the verse does not say "my relatives." The context of the verse is plain enough to state that Muhammed does not need a wage from the believers and if they can help somebody, they should help their own relatives. Indeed, helping the relatives is a divine command repeated in 2:83; 4:36; 8:41; 16:90. Also, see 33:33.