Tafsir of Al-Furqan 25:56

Regarding the example: {Except for whomsoever wills to take a way to his Lord}

The intended meaning is: "Except for the act of the one who wills [to take a way]." Its exclusion from the [concept of] reward is like the statement of one who is compassionate toward you, having striven to acquire wealth for you: "I do not ask of you a reward for what I have striven for, except that you preserve this wealth and do not squander it."

Your preservation of the wealth for yourself is not of the same genus as a reward. However, he has fashioned it in the form of a reward and called it by its name, thereby achieving two benefits:

1. Uprooting the suspicion of greed for a reward from its origin: It is as if he is saying to you: "If your preservation of your wealth is a reward, then I am indeed seeking a reward."
2. Demonstrating extreme compassion: [It implies] that if you preserve your wealth, consider your preservation a reward and be satisfied with it, just as one who is rewarded is satisfied with a reward.

By my life, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in this position—and even beyond it—regarding those to whom he was sent.

The meaning of "taking a way to Allah": It is their drawing near to Him and seeking proximity to Him through faith and obedience. It is also said: The meaning is drawing near through charity and spending in the way of Allah.