The Guiding Light — Page 340
S u rah al-Baqarah, Verse 255-258 340 to try to secure the intercession of an influential person in his favour or to enter a plea that he is related to some big personality and hence is entitled to special treatment. In reply to this, the Qur’ a n says, nor shall intercession be accepted for it. The word ﺷﻔﺎﻋﺔ ( shaf a ‘a h ) here has a twofold significance that: (a) No influential person shall be allowed to intercede for a culprit (b) No culprit shall himself be allowed to put in the plea that he is related to an influential person. The third possible means of release is for the culprit to try to secure his freedom by paying a ransom. With regard to this the Qur’ a n says, nor shall ransom be taken from it. Finally , when a criminal sees that all other means of escape have failed, he thinks of using force and getting his release by violence. With regard to this, the Qur’ a n says: nor shall they be helped, i. e. , they shall find no helpers against God. The Qur’ a n mentions these things not by way of threat but to make the Jews realize that they should not entertain false hopes. The only way open to them was to accept the Holy Prophet sa whom God had raised for their own good.